Plenary, 19 Jun 2008

Meeting date: Thursday, June 19, 2008

Official Report 709KB pdf

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Question Time

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SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE

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Europe, External Affairs and Culture

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Common Fisheries Policy

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it still considers that continuing membership of the European Union requires Scotland to participate in a common fisheries policy. (S3O-3838)

We continue to believe that the common fisheries policy does not serve Scotland well. We welcome the fact that the rejection of the Lisbon treaty by the Irish people presents another opportunity to prevent the extension of exclusive EU competence over the conservation of marine biological resources, which entrenches the discredited policy.

At the joint ministerial committee on Europe on 17 June, I urged the United Kingdom Government to make that competence a red line issue in any renegotiation of the treaty. In the meantime, we shall, as always, take every opportunity to increase national control over fisheries policy, as we did successfully at the December agriculture and fisheries council with the new conservation credits scheme.

An independent Scotland would, of course, be far better placed to conduct such negotiations.

I asked the question because my colleague Karen Gillon and I have been asking a series of questions of both the minister and the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment. In his foreword to his quotas consultation, the cabinet secretary says that

"The Scottish Government is seeking to withdraw from the CFP."

However, as Ms Fabiani has revealed, that is not something that it can do.

Was the minister consulted on the wording used in the quotas document? In the light of her previous answer, does she think that it is appropriate for official Government documents to say that the Government is attempting to do something that it is clearly not competent to do?

It is entirely competent for a Government always to let people know what is best for the country that it is governing. It is clear that Scottish opt-outs from the CFP should be possible, because member states of a similar size to Scotland—nation states with the right to determine their own futures in Europe—have successfully managed to negotiate opt-outs from particular elements of the European treaties. I suggest Denmark as a good example, as it has four opt-outs.

With John Scott on Royal Highland Show duties, I felt that it might be safe to pose a supplementary question on fishing.

Does the minister agree that in 1974 the UK ceded to the European Economic Community control of fisheries, rather than sovereignty over UK waters, and that it would be perfectly legal for a national Government to withdraw from the CFP? Of course, as the minister is aware, that national Government would be the UK national Government.

The sad thing for Scotland is that the UK Government does not stand up for Scottish fishing interests. Indeed, it tried to entrench the position even further by refusing to negotiate the exclusive competence out of the Lisbon treaty—on which it refused even to have a referendum.

The minister will be aware that Bridget Prentice, a minister in the UK Ministry of Justice, has allocated the extra MEP to the West Midlands. She will also know that Luxembourg, with six MEPs, has the same voting power as Scotland will have. Does she agree that it is indefensible that landlocked Luxembourg, with a population the size of Edinburgh, can vote on fishing and the common fisheries policy while Scotland cannot?

Yes, I agree—it is ridiculous that that is the case. Let me also put it on record that the Scottish Government objected to Scotland's representation in Europe being reduced by one MEP.

Does the minister believe that the statement that

"The Scottish Government is seeking to withdraw from the CFP"

is compatible with her obligations as a minister for Europe in a devolved Administration and the Scotland Act 1998?

Sorry—I did not catch the entire question. Could the member repeat it?

Does the minister believe that the statement that

"The Scottish Government is seeking to withdraw from the CFP"

is compatible with her role and devolved responsibilities as a minister for Europe and the Scotland Act 1998?

We will continue to press the Government of the United Kingdom, which is currently the member state, to withdraw from the common fisheries policy in the interests of Scotland, which has the vast majority of the UK's fisheries.

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International Development Strategy <br />(Business Involvement)

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to engage the wider business community in the strategy for international development. (S3O-3785)

Sustainable economic development is of course an important element in tackling the underlying causes of global poverty, which we recently discussed in detail at a European and External Relations Committee meeting. We recognise the important role that the wider Scottish business community can play and is ready to play in achieving that aim. For example, the Scottish Government has supported the Scotland Malawi Business Group to facilitate links between the business community in Scotland and Malawi. Our new international development policy and the funding guidance that will be published shortly encourage inclusion of the private sector.

Following our exchange at the European and External Relations Committee, will the minister confirm that she will seek imaginative solutions to reach beyond the national business organisations, in whose affairs many businesses of all sizes choose not to participate, and that she will energise companies and their employees, many of whom are willing to become involved with specific and practical projects in support of international development? Will she agree to use clear and non-contradictory language in promoting such projects?

We want to make best use of the broad spectrum of specific skills and expertise that the business community offers. The new funding guidance will proactively encourage applications from the private sector that demonstrate relevant expertise and which will enable the sharing of expertise. Of course, that will not be for a private company's profit. I do not have time to go into the many examples of how we are proactively encouraging such activity. A natural progression in an international development policy is to move from engagement with schools, colleges, universities, churches and other institutions to the business community. We have excellent examples of that.

Would the greater economic freedom that would arise from independence help the engagement of our business community with the strategy for international development?

An independent country that has the identity and strength that independence brings is naturally better placed to link with any initiatives in the world.

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News Coverage (BBC Trust Report)

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will be responding to the report of the BBC trust into the coverage of news across the United Kingdom and, if so, in what terms. (S3O-3781)

We are studying Professor King's report to the BBC trust and we strongly support the report's recommendations. It is clear that the BBC needs to do much more to serve its viewers in Scotland.

The Scottish Broadcasting Commission is also studying the report. It has already highlighted in its interim report on the democratic phase of its work the importance that Scots attach to television news and the fact that a majority are confused about whether items in network news programmes apply to Scotland.

Does the minister agree that one way of ensuring improved news coverage from a Scottish perspective of national, international and local events would be to have a new Scottish digital channel, which could also take on many of the regional responsibilities that ITV is trying to ditch? That could provide the core schedule for a range of television channels that were based on our major cities, which would be similar to those that are found in the United States and Canada. Does she agree that we should have such a forward-thinking digital-age solution for Scottish broadcasting rather than hark back to outdated and irrelevant notions such as a "Scottish Six"?

I refute the idea that that notion is outdated, but I agree that support is building for a Scottish digital channel. Evidence on that was given to the Broadcasting Commission and I look forward to reading its report, which will be issued in the next few months and which will address such questions.

However, that does not take away from the central point that the BBC should be fair to licence payers throughout the network. Terrestrial TV still has its place in ensuring democracy and fairness for Scotland.

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Intergovernmental and Interparliamentary Contacts

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to improve its contacts with other Governments and Parliaments. (S3O-3816)

The Scottish Government's international framework, which was published in April, sets out our objectives for contacts with other countries. Those objectives make it clear that, in representing Scotland overseas, the efforts of ministers, the Scottish Government and the wider public sector will focus on maximising the contribution to fulfilling the Government's purpose of increasing sustainable economic growth.

I congratulate the minister on the positive and successful approach that she has taken so far to ensure that national and international ties and cultural contacts reaffirm that Scotland is a distinct and identifiable part of the wider world family. However, will she alert sister Parliaments and parliamentarians worldwide to the forthcoming year of homecoming, which will be excellent, and encourage everyone who wishes to come to Scotland to join us in the homecoming celebrations?

The promotion of the year of homecoming has, until now, not specifically targeted Parliaments and parliamentarians in other countries, but Andrew Welsh's idea is excellent. One way in which I would like to promote the year of homecoming is through alerting the consular corps in Scotland to the fantastic array of homecoming events that will take place in 2009. The year of homecoming is being woven into all VisitScotland's marketing; it started with the Scotland week marketing in the United States and Canada in April earlier this year and it will continue until autumn 2009. Networks such as the globalscot network and Caledonian societies worldwide are also being targeted, of course.

I thank Andrew Welsh for the work that he has always done on promoting Scotland, and I thank Angus Council, which has promoted Scotland for many years. The year of homecoming is important to us all and it is good to know that everyone in the country wants it to be a success.

I welcome this discussion. The Parliament's Burns club discussed the same issue at its annual general meeting less than an hour ago and its members would support what has been said.

That was not a question. We will therefore go to question 5.

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European Union (Alliance of Southern European Members)

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to support the alliance of southern European members of the European Union supported by President Sarkozy but opposed by Chancellor Merkel. (S3O-3776)

The Scottish Government has noted the proposal to create a union for the Mediterranean, which would be open to all EU member states and 12 southern Mediterranean and middle eastern partners, as agreed by the European Council on 13 and 14 March this year. We recognise that there have been disagreements between Chancellor Merkel and President Sarkozy on how the proposal should be progressed.

Presiding officer, with all due respect, I asked the minister which side the Government will back. We have a real interest in supporting the development of regional alliances in the European Union. We have such an alliance between the United Kingdom and Ireland—the offshore group of islands. It would be a much better thing to believe that the Government understands that the development of regional interests with which people can identify is preferable to supporting the centralising requirements of the Lisbon treaty, with which no one can identify.

Regional interests are, of course, extremely important to the Government. That is shown in the international framework that we published earlier this year. That framework mentions the Nordic regions and the arc of prosperity, for example, quite a lot.

I recently informally discussed the proposed union for the Mediterranean with a representative of the French Government during a visit to Paris, but I have not yet had an opportunity to discuss it with a representative of the German Government.

What efforts are being made to enhance cultural and economic co-operation between Scotland and the EU and non-EU states of Scandinavia and northern Europe?

Under our draft action plan on European engagement, which I launched in April, the Scottish Government is actively seeking to work with our European partners in policy areas in which there is scope to benefit from collaborative working and to learn from and share past policy experiences. We are also willing to engage with European partners who are keen to learn from Scotland's experiences and policies—as an aspiring nation we should be doing that.

There will be a focus on closer engagement with the arc of prosperity countries—Norway, Finland, Iceland, Ireland and Denmark—particularly in relation to economic development. We can learn from the Scandinavian countries on a range of issues—indeed, we have a range of cultural links.

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Robert Burns (250th Anniversary)

To ask the Scottish Executive what is being done in preparation for the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns and, in particular, to ensure that Scots language and traditional arts organisations will be able to organise, contribute and participate fully in next year's homecoming Scotland events. (S3O-3871)

I am delighted by what I heard about the AGM of the Parliament's Burns club this lunch time.

The homecoming Scotland 2009 programme will formally begin on the weekend of Robert Burns's 250th anniversary. The programme, which was launched by the First Minister on 16 June, will begin with six Burns events in key locations throughout Scotland. There will be a further 13 Burns-related events in the homecoming programme and the total projected spend during 2009 will be £789,000. The programme overall contains a significant cultural element and key events will celebrate the best of our traditional heritage, arts and language.

Is the minister aware that Scottish Language Dictionaries has issued redundancy notices to staff? Some 20 years' work on Scots dictionaries is under threat. Is she also aware that traditional arts organisations face severe problems and simply cannot wait until next year to hear about funding? Given that the minister has expressed a commitment to traditional arts in the past, will she please find a way of supporting our traditional arts and language now?

We commissioned an audit on Scots—the first ever such audit—and I have committed to considering its results and developing a way forward for our Scots traditional heritage. The Scottish Arts Council is in discussion with Scots language groups about the way forward.

Members might be interested to know that VisitScotland told me that it received 55 applications for traditional arts events, of which 27 were granted funding.

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Scottish Opera (Subsidy)

To ask the Scottish Executive how much subsidy Scottish Opera will receive for 2008-09. (S3O-3819)

The public subsidy expected to be paid to Scottish Opera during the financial year 2008-09 is £8,782,427.

Is the minister aware of other funding sources or opportunities for Scottish Opera during 2008-09? Will she review the current Government subsidy and place the company on a funding level that is equitable with that of Opera North, which received £9.153 million in 2007-08?

There are two aspects to the member's question. Scottish Opera's new production of Smetana's opera, "The Two Widows" is a beneficiary of the new expo fund, through which Edinburgh International Festival bid for moneys and received £277,000 to enable it to fund the performance.

Scottish Opera operates on a scale that is very different from the scale on which Opera North operates and in a very different context, so it is not appropriate to compare directly the funding that the two companies receive.

I am delighted and impressed by the range and quality of the work that Scottish Opera delivers to audiences throughout Scotland and I look forward, as I know John Wilson does, to the company's continued success with its strong artistic programme, which I understand includes an exciting co-production with Opera North.

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Education and Lifelong Learning

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Kinship Carers (Financial Support)

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it is making to ensure that all kinship carers are receiving adequate financial support. (S3O-3863)

One of the commitments in our historic concordat with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities is to pay approved kinship carers of looked-after children a weekly allowance. That means that, for the first time, more than 2,000 such carers will be entitled to receive financial support. Progress against each of the commitments in the concordat will be reported annually by COSLA at the end of each financial year.

We are also supporting all kinship carers on a number of other fronts, including meeting United Kingdom ministers to discuss improvements to the benefits system and providing funding to Citizens Advice Scotland to launch a specialist advice and information service for all kinship carers later this year.

In his contribution to the debate on fostering and kinship care in December, the minister outlined the key principles that he said were at the heart of the strategy, one of which was

"identifying at an early stage those families who need more support. Then, we can mobilise agencies, under the getting it right for every child framework".—[Official Report, 5 December 2007; c 4086.]

In its publication on kinship care, the Scottish Parliament information centre said that there may be up to 10,000 looked-after children who are not known to local authorities. What action have the minister, his department, the local authorities and other agencies taken since the debate to identify those children and improve their life chances?

The figure of 10,000 that the member gave refers to all children, not just looked-after children. The strategy focused in particular on the payment of allowances to the kinship carers of looked-after children, of whom we have around 2,000 in Scotland. The figure of 10,000 relates to children and young people who live with relatives and not all of those children and young people are deemed to be looked after.

I hope to gain the member's support for what I am trying to do in this area, which is to look at the UK-wide benefits system. Next month, I will visit UK ministers to discuss welfare benefits for carers in this situation so that we might be able to support families in these circumstances better than we can at the moment.

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Graduate Endowment (Costs)

To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost of providing student loans to the 2,457 postgraduate students who received demands for immediate payment of the graduate endowment will be, following the enactment of the legislation to abolish the endowment. (S3O-3790)

The costs that are associated with providing student loans to postgraduate students who have chosen to settle their liability for the graduate endowment fee are the same as the costs that are incurred for providing all other student loans. Those costs, which are referred to as the student loans subsidy, amount to 31p for every £1 of loan paid out. The enactment of the legislation to abolish the graduate endowment fee has no bearing on those costs.

The member should be aware that this Government has now laid regulations to allow postgraduate students to pay their fee liability by loan and to do so legally, in order to close the loophole that the previous Administration created and honour the previous promises that were made to those students. We will also allow eligible postgraduate students to continue to defer payment.

The cabinet secretary will be aware of the unnecessary and entirely avoidable concern that has been caused to Scottish graduates who face demands for immediate repayment of the graduate endowment and are without any resources to do that. I welcome the fact that she has responded to pressure to resolve the situation, but it should never have arisen in the first place. Who was to blame? Was it the cabinet secretary or her officials?

It was of some concern to us that, when we looked into the issue, we found no legal basis for the previous Administration's offer of loans to these students. We moved swiftly to rectify the situation, which—as I said—has no bearing on or relationship to the abolition of the graduate endowment but relates to the legal mess that we inherited from the previous Administration. Clearly, in order to honour the promises that the previous Administration made, we are moving quickly on this. I hope that members across the chamber will help to support us in honouring the commitment that the previous Administration made. We will see these students all right.

The reality is that the legal status of students taking out loans was not an issue for these postgraduate students until the Scottish Government decided that they could no longer defer paying the endowment. Responsibility for the situation lies squarely with the minister and no one else. When she reversed the decision on deferment, she stated that she was exploring options to ensure that postgraduate students did not lose out. Can she confirm whether she will reimburse the postgraduate students who have already paid in full? Will she pay the interest on the student loans that postgraduate students were forced to take out after receiving their final demand letter?

The member's understanding and analysis of the situation are completely wrong. I have written to the Education, Lifelong Learning and Culture Committee to explain the provisions that we have had to put forward in the regulations to rectify the problem that was created by the previous Administration. She should have the good grace to acknowledge that we are moving swiftly to help the students and to honour the commitment to them.

The member asked a specific question about interest. It was clearly wrong for the Student Loans Company to apply interest on a loan that had no legal basis in the first place. We are taking steps to help these students and to honour the promises that were made by the previous Administration by ensuring that any interest that has been charged to any student is rewound so that they do not have to pay interest. We are also making provision for them to defer their payment until they become liable. We will sort out the previous Administration's messes and will ensure that its promises are adhered to. More important, if the graduate endowment fee had not been introduced in the first place, we would not have had this mess to sort out.

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Free School Meals

To ask the Scottish Executive how the extension of free school meal eligibility to families in receipt of working families tax credit will be funded. (S3O-3864)

We are investing record levels of funding in local authorities; there is a total funding package of £34.9 billion over the next three years. That reverses the previous decline in the proportion of Scottish Government funding that goes to local government.

It is the responsibility of each local authority to allocate the total financial resources that are available to it on the basis of local needs and priorities, having first fulfilled its statutory obligations and the jointly agreed concordat commitments, which include the commitment to extend entitlement to free school meals to all pupils whose parents or carers are in receipt of both maximum child tax credit and maximum working tax credit from August 2009.

The minister said much the same thing to me on 7 February in relation to school meals. My question relates to funding. On 10 April, Glasgow City Council confirmed to me in writing that the extension represents a significant change in eligibility for free school meals and that the council is not in a position to meet the full costs of the commitment. Who will provide the funding for the commitment? Will it be central Government or local government? As the minister has heard—I am happy to provide the letter from Glasgow City Council—the council has no money for it in its budget. Will the Government provide the funding?

I indicated in my first answer that the Government has provided new moneys to local government. Local government has agreed a set of commitments. I assume that Glasgow City Council is still a member of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and is signed up to agreements that COSLA makes. What Pauline McNeill has said is news to me—perhaps she can write to me with her information, which seems to be at odds with the information that this Government possesses.

It is certainly true that the Government has provided the money and COSLA has created the framework within which all local authorities should act. Does the minister agree that the Labour councillors in Glasgow City Council are intent on following the lead of the previous Labour Administration, which ruled out free school meals for children in receipt of working families tax credits?

I certainly hope that those councillors are not following that lead and that they will comply with the commitments that they have signed up to. I believe that the extension of the free school meal entitlement will be widely welcomed, particularly in Glasgow, where there is a concentration of poverty and deprivation and of people who are struggling to make ends meet. They will welcome with open arms the joint commitment from the Scottish Government and local government under our historic concordat.

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Additional Support Needs

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that pupils' additional support needs are being met. (S3O-3872)

The Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 and its associated code of practice set out the duties and responsibilities of local authorities and other agencies in meeting the additional support needs of Scotland's children. A consultation document on proposed amendments to the act was launched on Friday 9 May 2008. Although there is no intention to change the thrust or ethos of the act, the proposed amendments aim to strengthen the rights of children with additional support needs and their parents.

The minister will be aware of the attainment gap between deaf children and their hearing peers. In the light of the United Kingdom children's commissioners' collective report to the United Nations on the poverty of information on the performance of disabled children in mainstream education, what steps will the Government take to monitor that performance? In view of the fact that the Scottish National Party made a manifesto pledge to make available an additional £10 million for support needs, has the pledge been kept and, if not, when will it be kept?

I can confirm that it has. As the member knows, through our agreement with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, ring fencing has come to an end. We are rolling up all the funding and presenting it in a block grant to local authorities to distribute as they see fit. The additional support for learning moneys are part of that.

On the first part of Richard Simpson's question, he will be aware of the reports by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education on visual and hearing impairments. The Government tries to make progress on the recommendations in such reports. One particularly interesting HMIE report was the one that it produced last year on the 2004 act. One finding of that report on which I hope to act swiftly was that not enough parents are aware of their rights under the act or of what they can do to push local authorities to support their children. I want to make progress on that issue as a priority.

Will the minister clarify how he intends to protect children with assessed needs who move from specialist units or schools to mainstream education and whose support services are being diluted as a result of cuts and alterations to education provision in mainstream schools?

I would be grateful if the member passed to me any information that he has about that. Obviously, I would not find that kind of practice acceptable. On where we go from here, I have laid out our intention to strengthen and enhance parental rights under the 2004 act. That is one reason why we will introduce amendments to the act in September. I encourage the member to write to me with the details of the situation that he mentioned.

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Primary Schools (Catchment Areas)

To ask the Scottish Executive what legal rights the parents of primary 1, 2 and 3 pupils have in ensuring that their children attend the appropriate school for their catchment area. (S3O-3827)

Local authorities have a legal responsibility to provide adequate and efficient education for their area. It is for the authorities themselves to determine admission policies for their schools.

The minister knows that, in effect, there are two ways of reducing class sizes: providing more teachers and facilities; and reducing the number of pupils who are admitted to schools with overcrowded classes. With the Scottish futures trust still in the development stage, the Government has not yet provided a mechanism by which funding for new facilities can be secured. What assurances can the minister offer to parents of primary 1 to 3 pupils in my constituency who have contacted me, who fear that their child may no longer be able to attend the school in their catchment area because of class size reductions?

The member raises a number of issues. I ask him sincerely to be careful in the advice that he gives to parents, in order not to scaremonger or to concern them. I understand that the City of Edinburgh Council is able to guarantee a place at their catchment school at the start of next term to everyone in Edinburgh who is seeking one. I assume that that guarantee covers the member's constituency. If any parents think that their child will not receive a place as part of this autumn's primary 1 intake, the member may want to take up the issue with the City of Edinburgh Council. We understand that every child who is seeking a primary 1 place in the City of Edinburgh Council area at the start of the autumn term will get one.

The member mentioned the provision of resources for additional classrooms and teachers. There has been a record distribution of funds to local government—an additional £115 million in capital expenditure has been made available in the forthcoming year alone. The member was right to highlight the issue of resources for teachers, as we need to ensure that there are additional teachers who can be employed in early years. Our agreement with local government is that there are sufficient resources to maintain teacher numbers at 53,000. With falling school rolls, that will enable local authorities to reduce class sizes by providing sufficient headroom for teachers to be deployed in primary schools, especially in primary 1, 2 and 3.

Is the minister aware of the evidence that the Education, Lifelong Learning and Culture Committee has heard on the subject—specifically, that there has already been a successful appeal by a parent against a local authority that rejected their placing request on the ground that it was reducing class sizes? Does the minister have plans to issue guidance or to lay a statutory instrument on the issue? Does she believe that it is acceptable to leave local authorities and parents to battle it out in the courts?

The member may recall that, as far back as June last year, I gave evidence to the Education, Lifelong Learning and Culture Committee in which I indicated that there had been a court case—in North Ayrshire, I think—regarding placing requests. The case related to the previous Administration's policy of reducing class sizes in P1 to 25. We should consider the issue that the member raises and identify the best way forward. I know that there are already pressures in the member's constituency because of existing statutory instruments, regardless of the Administration's policy on class sizes. I am not promising that we will change regulations. A variety of methods, including circulars, legislation, the McCrone agreement and teachers' terms and conditions, have been used previously to determine class sizes. Currently there are three or four different ways in which class sizes are monitored. We will look at that issue as we implement the policy of class size reduction.

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Class Sizes

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any concerns about local authorities that are increasing class sizes. (S3O-3852)

Class configurations in particular schools are matters for individual local authorities. Under the terms of our concordat with local government, we will work towards reducing primary 1 to 3 classes to a maximum of 18 as quickly as possible.

That is fascinating. According to the minister, class sizes are a matter for local authorities but, before and since the election, ministers have been vocal in arguing for reduced class sizes, explaining their value and promulgating that policy. Now the minister seems reluctant to comment on the issue. I am asking for the minister's opinion: does she agree with, and approve of, those councils that are increasing class sizes in secondary 1 and 2 in maths and English?

As I said in my initial reply, it is entirely up to local authorities how they configure classes; it is their responsibility. I understand that the council in Hugh Henry's area is refocusing its attention on early years and that all parties in the council supported that proposal. We are glad, as a Government, that that council is in line with the central Government strategy.

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. You are keen to allow MSPs to hold Government to account and you believe that this forum is one way of doing that, but that can work only if ministers attempt to answer the questions that are asked. In this case, the minister ended by making a personal observation and comment supporting a council on early years class sizes, but she refused to answer and give her opinion on secondary 1 and 2 maths and English. In terms of the standing orders of the Parliament, how do you expect Parliament to hold ministers to account when they will not answer the question that is asked but instead attempt to answer a different question?

I am afraid that Mr Henry knows exactly what I am going to say. The content of ministerial responses is a matter for ministers. That matter is not covered by standing orders, I regret to say.