SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE
General Questions
Auxiliary Fire Units
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports the retention of auxiliary fire units. (S2O-6729)
The Scottish Executive greatly values the contribution that volunteer firefighters make to the protection of their communities. We have provided generous funding to the Highlands and Islands joint fire board to support its programme to develop many of its auxiliary units. However, the determination of the appropriate levels of fire cover is primarily a matter for the fire board.
Will the minister ensure that any downgrading of or changes to local auxiliary fire units throughout the Highlands that relate to road traffic accidents, heather and moor fires and other community-safety issues are met by the support of the other emergency services and ministers? We must ensure public safety and we must recognise the commitment of volunteer firefighters and the time that they give to support and protect neighbours and other people in their communities.
I have already put on record our recognition of the contribution that volunteer firefighters make, but I repeat that decisions on the issue are for the local fire board. No one can doubt the Executive's commitment to the fire services in the Highlands and Islands. Between 2000-01 and 2003-04, the Highlands and Islands fire brigade received £8 million in capital consent from the Executive. In 2004-05, we provided a £1.8 million cash grant for general use on capital projects and a further £1.15 million for the board's buildings upgrade programme. This year, 2005-06, we will provide a further £1.8 million cash grant for general use and £0.75 million to assist with building upgrades. There has been a 50 per cent increase in grant-aided expenditure between 2000-01 and 2005-06. We are putting in the money, but how that money is used is a matter for the local fire board, although we expect the local decision makers to take into account the points that Mary Scanlon has raised to ensure public safety and security throughout the Highlands and Islands.
I recognise the excellent job that is done by the local firemaster in the Highlands and Islands and by the fire board, which is led by Councillor Slack. However, does the minister accept in principle that it is absolutely essential that the auxiliary units continue to be able to combat outdoor fires in Scotland and that their work is vital to the communities that they serve? Does he also recognise the importance of the role of tackling road traffic incidents and that Newtonmore auxiliary unit should continue to perform that service? Will he urge the firemaster to consider that case once again?
That question is a bit like the one that Roseanna Cunningham asked me last week on the funding of local mediation services. The SNP needs to make up its mind on how it wants the relationship between the Parliament and local decision makers to operate. Does it want the power of subsidiarity, under which local decision makers make local decisions locally, or does it want the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliament to make decisions and then dictate to the local services? When SNP members have cleared up their thinking on that issue, they should come back and tell us, but until such time they should let the local decision makers get on with it.
Airport Rail Links
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to improve rail links to Scottish airports. (S2O-6740)
The Scottish Executive supports projects to deliver new rail links to both Glasgow and Edinburgh airports. We are also taking action to improve rail services to Glasgow Prestwick airport and we have established a Prestwick rail improvement group.
The minister will be aware of the dramatic and continuing success of Prestwick airport as a gateway for visitors to the country. Prestwick has a rail station but lacks an express service to Glasgow to satisfy demand. Given that the minister has established the Prestwick rail improvement group, will he give an undertaking to address sooner rather than later the infrastructure constraints that are preventing the development of an express service between Paisley Gilmour Street and Glasgow Central station, which will affect the Glasgow airport development?
Yes. I am determined that the capacity issue should be tackled and that we should improve capacity not just for the rail link to Glasgow Prestwick airport, but for rail services to the whole of Ayrshire and down the coast. It is important that that work proceeds as quickly as possible. It is a key part of the Glasgow airport rail link proposal and the work associated with it will allow for that additional capacity.
I welcome some of the minister's comments in response to Adam Ingram. Prestwick airport is a vital hub for Scotland, but, in relation to accessibility, my constituents in the Dunlop and Stewarton area are restricted to one train an hour. Will the review examine at long last the possibility of a dynamic loop that would link us to Glasgow as well as to Prestwick airport?
The work of the airport working group will be targeted on the specific concerns of the airport users. The owner of the airport, the rail company, the Executive and some of the key carriers who operate out of Prestwick are involved in that work, but I would like to address wider issues than simply those to do with the airport. I mentioned the improvement of services from Glasgow to the south and the west. That is important to me. We have new rail powers and we will be considering a number of strategic projects to invest in over the next decade or so. That work will include the positive and constructive suggestions that Margaret Jamieson and others are making about new rail projects.
Given the proposals for the Edinburgh airport rail link and the progress on the Borders railway, does the minister agree that there is now the prospect that the heart of my constituency in the Borders will have a direct, fast and regular rail service to Edinburgh airport, which would make a big difference to the community that I represent?
The detail of the services that will run on the new Borders line has still to be agreed, but we are determined that the line will be constructed. The great thing about the Edinburgh airport rail link is that it is a station on the main line, which will allow access to the airport from Glasgow, Inverness, Aberdeen, the east coast main line and, in due course when it is built, the Borders rail line. The opportunities for the future are exciting and will benefit all parts of Scotland, including the Borders.
Question 3 is withdrawn.
Community Ownership Programme
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made with the implementation of the community ownership housing programme. (S2O-6781)
Seven local authorities—Argyll and Bute, the Western Isles, Inverclyde, Renfrewshire, Stirling, Edinburgh and Highland—have joined the Executive's community ownership programme. Subject to the wishes of the tenants involved, the transfers will result in a further 80,000 homes transferring into community ownership.
I am sure that the minister will recall fondly his visit to the Western Isles in December, during which he visited one of two excellent new housing developments that are currently being completed in Stornoway—incidentally, those houses would not have been built had it not been for the positive and direct intervention of the Scottish Executive. On community ownership, will he assure me that his department will continue to work with the committed and dedicated housing officials in the Western Isles, so that they can ensure that a ballot of tenants in the islands can progress as quickly as possible? When a positive result is secured, our communities can begin to address with urgency housing shortage issues in the Western Isles.
I recall that visit fondly. Since then, I have taken a close interest in the matter and have been absolutely determined that some issues of detail should be resolved very soon. I guarantee that the ballot will go ahead in the not-too-distant future. That will be of enormous benefit to the Western Isles. When I went there, I announced the £15 million support package from the Executive, but over and above that will be the writing off of £38 million of historic housing debt. That is a splendid deal for the people of the Western Isles.
To what extent have existing whole-stock transfer organisations met their business plan new-build completion targets?
My answer referred to the local authorities that are new to the programme, but, as we know, there have been three others, from which we expect £2 billion-worth of investment over the next 10 years. I recently met representatives of Glasgow Housing Association, which I imagine Linda Fabiani has in mind. Last year, it delivered an investment programme of £110 million, including 10,252 new central heating systems, the internal upgrading of 3,300 homes and the external improvement of 4,400 homes. This year, the investment programme will increase to £135 million.
Private Housing Development (Open Spaces)
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it can take to ensure that private housing developers put in place measures to guarantee that open spaces in private housing developments are adequately maintained. (S2O-6759)
My understanding is that in many cases developers ensure that the title deeds of properties that they sell contain burdens that make provision for the maintenance of common areas. The development management scheme, which is to be introduced under the Title Conditions (Scotland) Act 2003, will give developers a model set of title conditions that they can adopt or adapt as necessary.
I am sure that the legislation mentioned by the minister will make a difference in some areas, but I know from experience and from speaking to other members that the situation throughout Scotland is unsatisfactory. Many owners find out too late that they are tied into factoring arrangements that do not work but which are difficult to get out of. Some local authorities are arranging with developers to set up maintenance schemes. Will the minister examine the schemes that are operating in the North Lanarkshire Council area, for example, to see whether they can be implemented throughout Scotland?
I am sure that my ministerial colleagues who deal with planning matters will examine those examples closely. The commitment in the partnership agreement to
Given that Highland Council charges 40 times the annual maintenance fee to adopt ground maintenance, may I just put on record my view that it would be helpful if details of ground maintenance charges and responsibilities were included in the purchasers information pack under the Housing (Scotland) Bill?
I am not sure that that was a question, but I will allow the minister to answer if he wishes.
I am sure that my colleagues who are dealing with the Housing (Scotland) Bill will consider that suggestion. However, that cannot take away from the responsibility of those who buy houses to check the title deeds properly. There is an issue about what local authorities do, but, as I said in answer to an earlier question, local decisions are a matter for local decision makers.
Will the minister also take the opportunity to regulate the property factors who are responsible for maintaining many of the developments throughout Scotland to which Cathie Craigie referred?
We will look closely at the issue of property factors, some of which work better than others. Over the years, a number of worrying examples have been highlighted that warrant scrutiny. Careful consideration will be given to the matter.
Motorbikes (Underage Riders)
To ask the Scottish Executive how many young people have been charged with riding motorbikes while under age in each of the last three years. (S2O-6731)
In the years 2001 to 2003, the number of offences of driving a motor vehicle without a licence in which the offender was aged under 17 was 320, 460 and 395 respectively. Offences relating specifically to riding a motorbike while under age cannot be identified separately in the available statistical information.
Will the minister tell us what action is planned to tackle the nuisance and danger that is caused in many communities by inappropriate use of motorbikes? What are the risks of that behaviour both to the riders and to the public?
The member will be aware that new powers under the Antisocial Behaviour etc (Scotland) Act 2004 can be used to deal with people who cause alarm, distress or annoyance to members of the public through antisocial use of vehicles on or off public roads. The first vehicle seizure, which involved a motorcycle, has taken place in Fife. I put on record my thanks to Fife constabulary for the hard work that it has done—it has issued in excess of 30 warning notices, which are the first step towards implementing the power of seizure. I understand that Grampian police have issued eight warning notices.
Ferguson Shipbuilders
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to help to secure the short-term future of Ferguson Shipbuilders, Port Glasgow. (S2O-6743)
Scottish Ministers are regularly apprised of the issues affecting Scottish shipbuilders and are regularly in contact with the industry and United Kingdom ministers to promote the interests of the Scottish industry. The Scottish marine steering group, which is chaired by Scottish Enterprise Glasgow, includes Ferguson Shipbuilders and meets to discuss matters affecting all Scottish shipbuilders and to promote Scottish Enterprise Glasgow's Scottish shipbuilding strategy. Support has been provided to Ferguson's through the enterprise agencies and has focused on skills training and business improvements. Ferguson's has benefited from publicly procured contracts in the past and is currently doing so through the vessel that is under construction for the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency.
I thank the minister for the action that he has described. At the moment, Polish shipyards have in excess of 3 million tonnes on their order books. Ferguson's is chasing a Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency order of less than 5,000 tonnes. That order is vital to the company's survival and to its workforce of 400, but is of no significance whatever to Poland. Is it not the case that the Executive has the power to place the work with Ferguson's and that all that is missing is the political will to do so?
I recognise the figures that Bruce McFee cites. However, he will understand that, under European Union procurement rules, Scottish ministers do not have the power to direct that he suggests that they have. He is doing a disservice to people by raising that possibility, which does not exist.
I do not agree with the minister. I remind him that last week I handed the First Minister an open letter on the issue. The letter, which was passed to me by the senior shop stewards and workforce at Ferguson's, was signed by numerous local businessmen and churches. Why must that highly skilled workforce and management go down on its collected bended knee for orders to build Scottish ships, which will be crewed by Scots and patrol Scottish waters, and whose construction will be funded by Scottish Executive money? Let us have a positive decision for Ferguson's and stop demeaning its skilled workforce. We need some backbone here in our back yard.
There is no demeaning of the workforce, to which I pay tribute for the work that it has done. Trish Godman has engaged extensively with the issue and has expressed and pursued the interests of her constituents. I have already explained to Bruce McFee the position under EU procurement rules. We are aware that allegations have been made that there is no level playing field and that unfair advantages have been given against EU rules. I assure the chamber that ministers have pursued all those allegations rigorously and will continue to do so.
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