Meeting of the Parliament

Meeting date: Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Official Report 790KB pdf

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Scottish Government Question Time

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Justice and Law Officers

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Strathclyde Police (Meetings)

1. To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Justice last met the chief constable of Strathclyde Police and what issues were discussed. (S4O-01286)

I have regular meetings with all the chief constables to discuss a range of matters. I recently met Chief Constable House at the serious organised crime task force meeting on Monday 10 September 2012.

Have there been any discussions about the possibility of locating the headquarters of the new Scottish police service next to the Scottish crime campus at Gartcosh, which is well serviced by rail and road networks?

I am aware of the outstanding facility that exists at Gartcosh. I know from the only discussions that I have had that the temporary HQ will be based at Tulliallan. Longer-term decisions about the location of the HQ and of other parts of the police service—whether they are located on one site or are dispersed around the country, as some people seek—will be for the chief constable to take. I can confirm that, in principle, the Scottish crime campus would provide a purpose-built national facility for the police service of Scotland and its partner agencies.

Did the cabinet secretary read the report on Strathclyde police authority, in which the auditor highlighted the inadequate level of engagement on the part of authority members?

I met police board conveners earlier today and Philip Braat, the new convener of Strathclyde police authority, was there. Matters do come to light, which is why we carry out reviews and investigations. Mr Braat and the other conveners were very proactive on what they seek to do as we move towards a single service. As with all aspects of policing and, indeed, of administration at local government or national Government level, there is always room for improvement and there are always lessons to be learned, but Philip Braat and his colleagues are seeking to do what they can to continue to provide an outstanding police service in Strathclyde.

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Administrative Justice

2. To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to improve administrative justice. (S4O-01287)

Work has started on developing a Scottish strategy for administrative justice, and I will keep Parliament updated as that work progresses.

The cabinet secretary will be well aware of the recent report by the Administrative Justice and Tribunals Council on administrative justice in public bodies, which outlined five recommendations. Will he confirm that he will implement the recommendation to establish a housing tribunal as part of the Scottish civil courts review?

Some of that will be a matter for discussion with my colleague the Minister for Housing and Welfare. We are in regular discussion with a variety of bodies as we move towards devolution of powers over administrative justice. As I and others have said, people in Scotland are more likely to interact with a tribunal than they are with the court system, so the devolution of those powers is significant.

We must work with a variety of agencies, the Lord President and the Scottish Court Service on the issue. I have recently been in communication with Richard Henderson, who is the chair of the Scottish Committee of the Administrative Justice and Tribunals Council, so I can assure the member that we are on the case. It is a complex area, given that some matters are reserved, some are devolved and others are of a hybrid nature. We think that the principle is good. I am sure that my colleague will be supportive of and sympathetic towards the suggestion that the member makes about housing.

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Drink-driving (Young Drivers)

3. To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to address trends in drink-driving among young drivers. (S4O-01288)

On 6 September, we launched a consultation on reducing the drink-driving limit in Scotland. We believe that a lower limit will help to make our roads safer for all drivers, including young and newly qualified drivers, who can often be hampered by a lack of driving experience and an inaccurate assessment of their level of competence.

Those factors can only be made worse by the effects of alcohol. We wanted to explore the possibility of introducing a lower limit for young and newly qualified drivers as part of our drink-driving consultation, but unfortunately the United Kingdom Government rejected our request to devolve the power to do so in the Scotland Act 2012.

We intend to approach the UK Government again to seek further powers on drink-driving, such as the ability to prescribe different drink-driving limits for different types of drivers.

Recent meetings that I have had with Grampian Police suggest that there is a trend towards younger drivers being more likely to be found to be under the influence of alcohol when stopped. Does the cabinet secretary agree that as well as the welcome measures that are being taken by the Government, we need to do more to reinforce the social unacceptability and dangers of drink-driving to young people, particularly those who are newly qualified drivers?

Absolutely—I concur with Mark McDonald on that. Members are all aware that there are far too many road tragedies in Scotland, whether in rural or urban areas. I know that Grampian suffers significantly in that respect. We believe that a legislative change could provide some help, to which we can add the reduction in the drink-driving limit, although we wish to consider going further with regard to a variety of other road traffic matters.

Mr McDonald makes a valid point. This is a cultural issue. Two particular categories of drink-drivers are causing us problems at the moment. One category is a hard core of recidivists who seem to think that the law does not apply to them. We would have preferred to have random stop-and-search powers devolved to us from the UK Government, but we were not given those powers. Recidivists have to realise that the law applies to them, that their drink-driving will be addressed by the police and that they will face the severe consequences that follow.

We also need to try to caution young drivers and to recognise that perhaps some of the effects of advertising on a whole variety of matters—advertising that brought the issue to the attention of people of my generation and led to a cultural change—are perhaps diminishing.

We need to work with all agencies—the fire and rescue service, the police and education authorities—to ensure not only that we enforce the law and that the law is appropriate, but that we change the culture and remind young drivers that driving under the influence of alcohol is likely to cost them their lives and others their lives.

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Cashback for Communities (Funding Priorities)

4. To ask the Scottish Government what its priorities are for the next tranche of funding from the cashback for communities programme. (S4O-01289)

The priority for our highly successful cashback for communities programme is to invest the proceeds of crime back into communities to benefit all Scotland’s young people. Since its inception, more than £46 million has been invested throughout Scotland, directly benefiting more than 600,000 young people and generating more than 11,000 young person volunteers, who are putting something back into their communities.

All cashback funding that is received through proceeds of crime has already been invested in or committed to projects, through to 2014-15, for young people and communities that have been hit by crime. That includes almost £27 million on sporting activities and facilities projects; £8.5 million on grant schemes that support small, diversionary youth work projects throughout the country; more than £3.5 million on cultural activities including arts, music and dance; and £2.25 million on a community assets programme, which aims to help support communities to find solutions to their own problems.

It is excellent news that so many young people and communities are benefiting from the initiative. However, will the cabinet secretary confirm that the amounts that have been raised under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 are still capped, with any excess going to the London Treasury—something that I think everyone will find simply unacceptable and outrageous?

Does the cabinet secretary believe that we can achieve cross-party consensus in the Parliament to put pressure on the United Kingdom Government on the issue in order to ensure that any moneys taken from criminals in Scotland benefit the communities blighted by those criminals?

I hope that we can achieve cross-party consensus on that. It is an issue that has been raised before—it is not just Sandra White who has raised it. I remember Lord George Foulkes—as the First Minister refers to him—raising it, and I agree with him.

Proceeds of crime are currently capped at £30 million, with all other money being remitted to the Treasury. Although we have not breached the cap, the endeavours of the Lord Advocate and his colleagues are taking us towards a situation in which we may do so—that may occur at some time in the future. It seems appropriate that proceeds of crime that are recovered by the authorities in this country should be returned to our communities. I hope that members across the chamber agree that such matters should be dealt with here, that there should not be any cap at all, and that money should certainly not be going to the Treasury when it could be reinvested to improve and secure our communities.

The cabinet secretary knows of my concern that those communities that are most blighted by crime should receive a proportionate amount of money from the cashback scheme. Will he give details today of how the Scottish Government measures that that is happening? If it is not happening, what action will the Government take to ensure that it does?

We try to provide extra to those areas that require most by putting money back into areas that suffer from the blight of crime.

We accept that there is a rural-urban divide. The cost of allowing kids to participate in, for example, art, dance or football can be greater in rural areas because we require to pay for buses and so on. We take into account a variety of factors. Those areas that suffer disproportionately should be rewarded, and that is what we do. Those areas that have a problem because of rurality and peripherality must also be supported. I am happy to assure the member that we provide for those areas that suffer disproportionately, but I make it clear that there will be no postcode lottery. Every child should be given the opportunity to be all that they can be, irrespective of where they reside.

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Crimes of Aggression

5. To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the introduction of legislation to allow for the prosecution of crimes of aggression under international law. (S4O-01290)

Our position is that action to introduce the crime of aggression into Scots criminal law at this time is likely to fall outwith the competence of the Parliament by virtue of the foreign relations reservation in the Scotland Act 1998.

The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court is the treaty that established the International Criminal Court. Following the agreement that was reached at the Kampala conference in 2010, member states that are party to the treaty, including the United Kingdom, have until 2017 to decide whether to ratify the amendments that were agreed at Kampala on the crime of aggression. We understand that the UK Government has not yet reached a decision on what it will do.

Until we know whether the UK Government is going to ratify the Rome statute amendment relating to the crime of aggression, action to legislate would fall outwith the competence of the Scottish Parliament.

While acknowledging the possible barriers to incorporating the crime of aggression into Scots law, does the cabinet secretary agree that, as a matter of fundamental principle, the Government and the Parliament should be doing everything in their power to support the rule of international criminal law and the bringing to trial of those who have been accused of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and, indeed, the crime of aggression, regardless of who they are and any official status that they might have attained?

Absolutely. Anyone who perpetrates heinous offences such as genocide and crimes against humanity should be brought to account. The Government is clear that it supports empowering the International Criminal Court to bring justice to those who are actively involved in the planning, preparation, initiation and execution of illegal wars, whoever they are and whatever position they might hold. I hope that the UK Government will listen to the views offered in the Scottish Parliament and hear the strength of feeling on the issue, and that it will support the ratification of the amendments to the treaty. The Scottish Government will then be in a position to act.

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Domestic Abuse

6. To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to tackle domestic abuse. (S4O-01291)

The Scottish Government continues to work with key partners, including the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland and voluntary organisations, to tackle domestic abuse.

We have allocated funding of £34.5 million over the next three years to tackle violence against women, including domestic abuse. That funding demonstrates our strong commitment to the area at a time of unprecedented financial constraint. It enables us to support a wide variety of projects and organisations, such as Scottish Women’s Aid, which focus on supporting victims.

We also support the Caledonian system, which addresses men’s offending behaviour.

Will the cabinet secretary join me in congratulating Grampian Police’s domestic abuse unit on giving protected adult status to people who are victims of domestic abuse and who continue to be at risk, thus giving them direct access to police help? Does he believe that the legal profession should be aware of that status in relation to related criminal and civil cases?

Absolutely: the legal profession should be aware of that. I am aware of the outstanding work that is being done by Grampian Police’s domestic abuse unit, to which I pay tribute. I am reminded of the view of John Carnochan from Strathclyde Police’s violence reduction unit that violence against women is a men’s issue.

We require to provide for and support those who are victims, but fundamentally we also have to change the culture of violence and the attitude among men who seem to think that women are fair game. Whether it is Grampian Police, John Carnochan at the violence reduction unit, the legal profession, parliamentarians or indeed citizens, we all have a role to play, and those of us who are male have a particular role to ensure that we address the subject. That is not true simply in relation to domestic abuse, as it is also driven home in the campaign that was launched recently to tackle sexual offences and the crime of rape—a campaign that I, the Lord Advocate, Sandy Brindley from Rape Crisis Scotland and the police have participated in.

I echo the comments about Grampian Police’s domestic abuse service. Will the cabinet secretary comment on the fact that, with the 9 per cent increase in the domestic abuse figures across Scotland that was reported last week, the biggest increase was in the area of Northern Constabulary? Does he agree that the domestic abuse court in Glasgow has been very successful and that that approach can play a role in addressing the issue in other parts of Scotland, too?

Views on that issue have been canvassed in the chamber on many occasions. The domestic abuse court in Glasgow has done outstanding work, and the initiative that has taken place in the city of Edinburgh is also outstanding. However, there are difficulties in some areas. As I have mentioned before, it is simply not credible to set up a domestic abuse court in Lochmaddy, nor indeed in Stornoway, Lerwick or other places.

There is a significant cause for concern in the area of Northern Constabulary. Equally, I am sure that the police and the courts are on top of matters there. We seek to work with the courts, the legal profession and the judiciary to ensure that we tackle and address that.

I am afraid that I must now ask for brevity in questions and answers.

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Speeding Offences (A9)

7. To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recent 10-day enforcement period on the A9 Inverness-Perth road where 687 motorists were charged with speeding offences, whether it plans to repeat the exercise. (S4O-01292)

The decision to conduct and co-ordinate such activity is part of operational police planning and is subject to a number of variable factors. No specific plans have been announced to repeat that joint, high-profile enforcement initiative. However, I assure the member that if the chief constable, the divisional commander or whoever decides, in conjunction with the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency, for example, to do so, they will have my full support.

In light of the level of fatal road collisions on the A9, is the Scottish Government considering installing average speed detection cameras?

The outcome of the 25 July meeting of the A9 safety group is that it will consider a series of actions. One of those is for the group to investigate the case for an average speed system between Dunblane and Inverness. The member might wish to communicate with that group.

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Civil Legal Aid (Impact of Welfare Reform)

8. To ask the Scottish Government what undertakings it has received from the United Kingdom Government to meet any increased demand on the Scottish civil legal aid budget as a result of UK welfare reform. (S4O-01293)

The United Kingdom Government has not provided concrete assurances to cover any monetary impact as a result of increased demand on the civil legal aid budget through welfare reform. We continue to seek clarity on the issue, most recently through the joint ministerial committee and regular discussions with Department for Work and Pensions ministers.

It is disappointing but not surprising to hear that the UK Government plans to do absolutely nothing to meet any potential increased demand on the civil legal aid budget as a result of its dismantling of the welfare system. Surely the cabinet secretary must recognise that the only way in which to end the on-going dilemma of reserved policies impacting on what are clearly devolved matters—

Will you put a question quickly, please?

Surely the only way to end the dilemma will be to vote yes in the 2014 referendum on independence.

Well, yes. We have problems here and it would be much better if we were able to provide the solutions.

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Police (Attendance at Court)

9. To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that court attendance by police officers does not affect front-line policing in their area. (S4O-01294)

The evidence that police officers give in court is often necessary to secure criminal convictions, and police officers are also required to execute orders of the court and apprehend those who fail to appear. The Crown will always take measures to avoid the unnecessary attendance of witnesses at court, including by agreeing evidence where possible and by scheduling cases to cause the least possible inconvenience and disruption to police officers. Where police witnesses are cited, the Procurator Fiscal Service has put in place police witness scheduler and standby arrangements to allow officers to carry out their duties while waiting to be called to give evidence.

Does the Lord Advocate agree that it would be efficient to allow officers to continue in their own patrol areas in Glasgow until around an hour before the time that they are due in court, given that nowhere in Glasgow is more than an hour from the city courts?

I agree in principle. The results of the standby arrangements at Glasgow sheriff court since March of this year show that

“Over 2,000 police officers have been placed on standby arrangements which allows those police officers on such arrangements to carry out other police duties whilst they are waiting to give evidence in court.”

Police officers have a duty to give evidence in court as and when required. We need flexible arrangements to ensure both that there is not a huge imposition on the policing of Glasgow and that police officers are available to give evidence at the time required.

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Rural Affairs and the Environment

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Egg Producers (Support)

1. To ask the Scottish Government what support it is giving to egg producers. (S4O-01296)

The Scottish Government has provided support to egg producers through the Scotland rural development programme, including through the food processing, marketing and co-operation grants scheme. The latest rounds, announced on Sunday 16 September 2012, include a grant for almost half a million pounds to egg producers A J Duncan in Turriff, for building upgrades and the purchase of grading, packing and other equipment.

I thank the cabinet secretary for his reply. He will be aware that eggs produced in Scotland are produced to higher welfare standards than those in other parts of the United Kingdom and that we have our own ISO country identifier on each egg. What action can the Scottish Government take to help promote this fact in supermarkets?

Joan McAlpine raises a good point. It is certainly the case that Scotland meets some of the highest animal welfare standards in the world. That is something that we should perhaps shout about more. The pig industry has done so with some success, in conjunction with the RSPCA, in recent times. A number of organisations are speaking about making the most of the opportunities. I will happily give the matter some more thought and update the member.

I refer to the success of the UK-wide SOS dairy campaign. I note the cabinet secretary attended that important meeting at Lanark.

What will he do to work alongside colleagues in the UK Government and other devolved Administrations and appropriate organisations to see that a fair price is paid to free-range egg producers?

I will do whatever it takes to ensure that our primary producers in Scotland receive a fair price. Hopefully, the Scottish Government demonstrated its commitment during the recent dairy crisis, when our dairy farmers, quite rightly, were shouting about the fact that they were getting a very raw deal on their share of every pound spent on milk in the supermarkets and elsewhere. If that applies to other products, I would be right behind any campaign to ensure that there is fair trade for Scottish producers. If there is any evidence that that is not the case at the moment, I will want to hear about it.

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Fly Infestation (Grangemouth)

2. To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Falkirk Council and other agencies regarding the fly infestation at Abbotsinch, Grangemouth. (S4O-01297)

Regulation of waste facilities such as the Abbotsinch recycling centre is a matter for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency. SEPA and the Scottish Government have had contact with Grangemouth community council about nuisance caused by flies believed to be coming from the recycling centre. SEPA has taken enforcement action to require the operator to improve the controls at the site. I understand that the site is now operating in compliance with its licence and that the number of flies is expected to reduce.

I thank the minister for that very detailed response. There is no doubt that this matter is of some concern to the local residents whose enjoyment of their houses and gardens has been blighted by the infestation. I commend the work of my colleague, Angus MacDonald, the constituency MSP, who has established a problem-solving partnership with local residents and stakeholders. Will the minister undertake to keep the partnership fully informed of developments regarding this infestation?

I commend both Angus MacDonald and SEPA for their proactive engagement with local residents and other stakeholders on this issue and other similar issues in the local area. I whole-heartedly encourage that productive engagement to continue in pursuit of an outcome that is satisfactory to all. I look forward to hearing further outcomes of such partnership working in due course.

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Arable Sector (Weather Conditions)

3. To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact on the arable sector of recent weather conditions. (S4O-01298)

This year’s weather conditions have been challenging for some Scottish farmers in the arable sector due to localised flooding resulting in some crop losses. Overall, yields are lower in many cases, with reports suggesting a reduction of 10 to 20 per cent. However, cereal prices are up by around 20 per cent on last year.

We will have a clearer picture of the financial and market effects on this year’s crops following our annual crop report meeting with key stakeholders, which will take place on 8 October. We will publish yield estimates shortly thereafter.

The cabinet secretary agreed today to visit East Lothian Produce Ltd in my constituency, which is Scotland’s main producer of cabbage and a significant supplier of potatoes. His willingness to come and see what is happening is welcome and does him credit, but when he goes there, he will find that the company faces losses of as much as 40 per cent in its key crops because of the exceptional rainfall. Arable farmers who suffer those difficult circumstances really need to know whether he will be able to offer them any support or succour.

I thank Iain Gray for his supplementary question and the constructive way in which he presented it. I also thank him for bringing to my attention the circumstances that face East Lothian Produce. I am sorry to hear about those circumstances, which is why I am keen to meet the company first hand to hear about its experiences. I hope that the member is able to make it along to that meeting.

Governments do not provide, and have never provided, financial support to industries in Scotland for the impact of severe weather conditions. However, if there are other ways in which we could help the industry, we are keen to hear about them. We will do all that we can. We acknowledge the challenging circumstances that face many businesses. Of course, potato growers in Scotland—as well as vegetable growers such as East Lothian Produce—face particular difficulties.

I look forward to the meeting and to hearing any constructive ideas about how the Government might be able to help.

Can ministers give any support to livestock producers, including pig producers, who face large increases in the cost of feedstuffs, partly as a result of the circumstances about which we have heard?

We are doing our utmost to promote the consumption of Scottish food produce in Scotland and beyond because, if more and more people enjoyed fantastic Scottish pork and other products, that would be the best way in which to help producers. I know that all members of the Parliament support that approach, particularly given that, at the weekend, Scottish food and drink fortnight—when we made a particular effort to promote Scottish food and drink—drew to an end.

I am in regular contact with pig producers in Scotland about a range of issues. We are discussing some initiatives that may be of assistance in future. However, it is too early to determine which will be the best ones in light of rising food prices, which are a global issue—not particularly a Scottish one—that affects producers everywhere.

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Climate Change

4. To ask the Scottish Government how it will use the findings of the Report on Proposals and Policies to implement its climate change policy. (S4O-01299)

In March 2011, the Scottish Government published “Low Carbon Scotland: Meeting the Emissions Reductions Targets 2010–2022: The Report on Proposals and Policies”, the statutory report on proposals and policies—RPP—which set the strategic direction to take us to our 42 per cent emissions reduction target for 2020.

Subsequently, in October 2011, a second batch of annual targets was set for 2023 to 2027. We are currently working on a second RPP, which will consider how those targets can be achieved. That report will also assess the progress that has been made towards implementing the measures that were contained in the first RPP. Ministers may make adjustments to those measures if they consider it appropriate to do so.

Has the Scottish Government considered the recommendation by the Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment Committee to ensure that the forthcoming RPP is aligned with the Scottish budget?

We are certainly working on the revised RPP. I am aware that there are issues with the timing of the report, but we aim to lay it before the end of the year. It is a complex, wide-ranging project and work continues to ensure that the final report is robust enough to remain relevant for at least the next five years, by which time we will need to introduce RPP3.

If Jenny Marra wishes to raise any specific issues with me, I would be more than happy to meet her.

The RPP will clearly be of any use only if it is fully funded in the Scottish Government’s budgets. Will the minister ensure that parliamentary committees have adequate time to consider the two documents together, as he recommended last year when he signed off the Finance Committee’s recommendations on that year’s budget?

As the member is aware, I was a member of the Finance Committee and I recognise the recommendations to which he refers. We have to wait for the revised budget from John Swinney, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth. I hope that once the revised budget is published, we can engage in more dialogue on the issues that the member raises.

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Climate Change Targets

5. To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its not meeting its first climate change target, how it plans to ensure that subsequent targets are achieved. (S4O-01300)

As I said in response to his colleague, Jenny Marra, and as the member will be aware, the Government is almost two thirds of the way—it is certainly over halfway—towards meeting its initial target of a 42 per cent reduction. Like all members, I am disappointed with the performance on the 2010 emissions reduction target. As Stewart Stevenson explained when the data was published in July, the extreme cold weather at the start and end of 2010 was a significant factor, as it resulted in an additional 2.2 million tonnes of carbon dioxide being emitted by residential heating. [Paul Wheelhouse has corrected this contribution. See end of report.]

The Scottish Government remains fully committed to delivering the emissions cuts needed to meet our ambitious and world-leading climate change targets. Last year’s spending review contained details of more than £650 million of climate change spending, and we have been able to announce a further £34 million of additional funding this year.

As I said to Patrick Harvie, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth’s revised budget for this year will seek to ensure that there is additional money for climate change purposes whenever there are opportunities to do so. However, it is not just about central Government money. Action throughout the wider public sector, investment by the private sector and steps taken by households and individuals will all be important in meeting our emissions targets.

Given the comment about cold weather conditions in 2010 that his predecessor, Stewart Stevenson, made, will the minister put wishes for better weather in the coming winters alongside his warm words and commitment?

The indication for 2011 from United Kingdom data, which have yet to feed out, is that there has been a 25 per cent reduction in household production of CO2 through gas consumption. It is important for Opposition members to recognise that if we were to have a more favourable budget from the Westminster Government, we could achieve far more in addressing our carbon reduction targets.

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Agricultural Sector (Stakeholder Engagment)

6. To ask the Scottish Government what recent engagement it has had with key organisations in the agricultural sector. (S4O-01301)

The Scottish Government has an intensive and on-going engagement programme with key agricultural organisations across a wide range of policy areas.

I ask the cabinet secretary about the engagement that he has had with organisations on employment in the agriculture sector. I know that the Joseph Rowntree Foundation has done a bit of work on the issue and that the Scottish Government has been looking at certain work around the Scottish Agricultural Wages Board. In addition, the citizens advice bureau in Perth has raised concerns with me about some employment issues that have come up over the summer. Is the issue on the cabinet secretary’s radar? What steps has the Scottish Government taken to address the issues?

I assure the member that the issue is certainly on the Government’s radar. Indeed, only last week the Scottish Government hosted a new entrants summit for the agriculture sector, at which a range of ideas came forward from the—thankfully—quite young new entrants who were there and want to build a career in agriculture. I will certainly take some of those initiatives forward.

Given that he has raised the subject, I tell the member and the chamber that Angela Constance, the Minister for Youth Employment, and I hope to host a rural skills summit soon, because we recognise that there is a demand among many in rural sectors to attract the next generation into them. We want to discuss the skills gaps so that we can encourage more young people, more apprentices and so on to, I hope, build a career in our rural sectors.

What recent engagement has the Scottish Government had with key organisations in the crofting sector?

We have had a range of engagement and have discussed a range of issues.

In his discussions, has the cabinet secretary been aware of the growing concern about the manner in which the eligible land penalties are being applied to crofters and farmers? Is he aware that 23 more crofters and farmers in Shetland will be inspected this year and that 1,000 more units across Scotland will be a part of his department’s work in that area? Does he recognise that the European Union has not changed the underlying basis for the regime but that, between 2008 and 2012, his department changed how inspections are done?

Will the cabinet secretary undertake to look into that regime and see whether there is any way whatever in which it could be made fairer? Most crofters and farmers think that the current mechanisms by which they are being penalised are grotesquely unfair.

The member raises a concern for many farmers and crofters. He will be aware of the disallowance by the European Union, which meant that we recently had to pay tens of millions of pounds. The auditors wanted more stringent application of the regulations in Scotland, to ensure that money from the public purse is spent correctly. It is therefore unfair simply to lay the responsibility at Scottish officials’ door. We are doing the work because it is in the wider interest of Scotland and of farmers to ensure that future payments are available.

I agree with the sentiment of what the member says in that we are disappointed that the European Commission is not saying more in the current common agricultural policy negotiations about changing the cross-compliance regime and the penalties regime in particular, which is a sledgehammer to crack a nut in many cases. We are still making the case to the Commission for making that regime more proportionate and reasonable.

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Recycling Targets

7. To ask the Scottish Government what support it gives to local authorities to ensure that recycling targets are met. (S4O-01302)

Continuing to help local authorities to meet recycling targets is a priority for me and for zero waste Scotland. That is why we announced in the previous budget that we would invest almost £80 million over the next three years in an effort to reduce waste and recycle more.

This year, zero waste Scotland is making £5 million available to help local authorities to roll out household food waste collections. Funding is also available to help councils to roll out recycling services to tenements and for the recycling on the go initiative, communication and engagement work, service improvements and staff training.

A number of residents of high-rise flats in my constituency have particular problems with the provision of recycling bins at home. Will the Government assist local authorities in sharing ideas about their best practice on providing recycling bins, so that the residents of high-rise flats can manage the number of bins that are required?

The member raises the important issue that different local authorities in different parts of Scotland face different challenges in rolling out kerbside recycling. As Gil Paterson was right to point out, tenements face particular challenges. In relation to that, Glasgow City Council and other local authorities have tried new and innovative methods in recent years.

We will shortly publish kerbside best practice guidance that will provide councils with detailed information and examples of best practice from across the country on the design, implementation and delivery of waste services, including services to flats and tenements. We recognise that we must roll out those important services across Scotland.

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Waste Water Treatment Works (Seafield)

8. To ask the Scottish Government what action it and its agencies will take to address the environmental issues at the Seafield waste water treatment works. (S4O-01303)

In line with the relevant code of practice, it is for regulators to ensure that effective arrangements are in place to minimise the emission of malodour from Seafield waste water treatment works. I recognise the member’s long interest in the issue. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency is the regulator for the waste-handling parts of the site and the City of Edinburgh Council is the regulator for all the other parts. Scottish Water is committed to working closely with both regulators.

Is the minister aware that, despite some investment by Scottish Water in Seafield, there are still frequent odour emissions that are completely unacceptable to the local community? Is he further aware that the City of Edinburgh Council’s transport, infrastructure and environment committee resolved at its meeting last week to make representations to Scottish Water about investment and action to deal with the continuing problems? Will he raise the matter with Scottish Water, as I will at a meeting this Friday?

In the 2006 to 2010 regulatory period, we invested £20 million to tackle malodour at Seafield. Any further investment would need to be proposed by the relevant regulators, based clearly on evidence and be a proportionate response to the problem that has been identified. That is not to diminish the issue that the member raises, which I recognise is a serious problem and has been so for some 10 years.

I would be more than happy to meet the member following his meeting, which he mentioned, with Mr MacAskill and Scottish Water.