Contents
- Scottish Parliament Thursday 20 March 2003
- Business Motion
- Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3
- Point of Order
- Presiding Officer's Ruling
- Point of Order
- Question Time
- First Minister's Question Time
- Points of Order
- Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3
- Sexual Offences Bill
- Railways and Transport Safety Bill
- Parliamentary Bureau Motions
- Motion without Notice
- Decision Time
- Suicide Emergency Telephone Hotline
Question Time
SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE
Fallen Stock (Disposal)
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in developing a national disposal scheme for fallen stock. (S1O-6679)
Proposals for a UK-wide fallen stock scheme are under active consideration. We are working closely with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the other devolved Administrations to devise an acceptable national scheme, which must involve producers meeting some of the associated costs. The National Farmers Union of Scotland will be consulted on a draft scheme as soon as possible.
I find that to be an extremely disappointing response, given that the restrictions on burial will be introduced in a few weeks' time. With only weeks to go before the regulations are implemented, is not it wholly unacceptable for farmers across Scotland not to know what the scheme will involve, not to know what the distribution arrangements will be and, most important, not to know how much it will cost them?
I have made my frustration clear in a number of other places. I have consistently made it clear that the most sensible arrangement would be to build on the transmissible spongiform encephalopathy uplift scheme. There are two elements to that, one of which is the testing regime. About 33 per cent of the total casualties that we expect are represented by bovines. The sensible way to get value for money is not to have a separate scheme, but to uplift bovines under that scheme. That has been my consistent position.
I regret that it has taken so long for us to get the agreement that I hope to get on a national scheme but, in the long run, that will provide better value for money. Because it embraces the first scheme, it will involve a much reduced level of charge than would otherwise have been the case if we had tried to do it separately.
At a recent joint meeting of Caithness and Sutherland NFUS, this issue was raised with me. It is of enormous concern to our farmers and crofters. Will the minister give me two undertakings? First, will he undertake to allow the maximum input from our crofters and farmers on the draft map that has already been published? Secondly, will he consider the difficulties of geography and remoteness that hugely affect my constituency? If this regulation goes through in its present, untrammelled form, it could be deeply damaging to agriculture in the far north.
I am slightly puzzled by the nature of that response, given that, yesterday, we published a document showing the substantial amount of Scotland—including the north, the north-west and the northern part of Argyll—for which the Executive has negotiated a derogation from the requirement to apply the European regulation. I hope that, when he studies that consultation document, the member will understand that the matter is being consulted on and that a substantial derogation is being offered to remote and rural areas for which the imposition of the regulation would be difficult, as he says.
This issue has been raised with me by a farmer who has 130 ewes who says that, during the coming months, he anticipates a 10 per cent loss of ewes as well as some lambs. As the minister knows, in April that farmer will be left with no option, as he will not be able to bury them. I support the cross-party calls for as much consultation as possible, as soon as possible, so that the issue can be resolved before the end of April, when that farmer will no longer be allowed to bury dead animals on his land.
I appreciate what the member says. I have had several discussions on this matter with the NFUS in the Borders and in the north of Scotland, which is, perhaps, more affected by the measure.
I am cognisant of what the member says. I can only repeat what I said in response to David Mundell: in my opinion, far and away the best way of resolving this matter is through a national scheme that builds on the present TSE uplift regulations. We cannot in any way impose on the integrity of the BSE testing, but we have a separate collection scheme that accounts for a third of present animals. It does not make sense to start a fresh scheme that involves people uplifting bovines on one farm and uplifting sheep on the next door farm.
I hope that the member agrees with me that that is the sensible way in which to proceed. I assure her that I am doing everything that I can to ensure that that will be implemented as quickly as possible.
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. You were obviously calling members who represent rural constituencies and regions to ask questions on this matter, Presiding Officer, but some of us in Glasgow have an intense interest in fallen stock because that is where fallen stock is being incinerated.
That is not a point of order. Whom I call or do not call is a matter on which I exercise my discretion as carefully as I can.
E-health
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give details of its e-health plan. (S1O-6684)
The main elements of the e-health plan are set out in the "Partnership for Care" report and we have subsequently announced a doubling of funding for e-health over the next three years. The driving force is the urgent need for an e-health culture led by clinicians and one of the key objectives is the development of an integrated care record jointly managed by the patient and NHS staff.
I am aware that e-health initiatives are already being used in some parts of the Highlands and Islands. How will e-health improve the delivery of health services in remote and rural areas?
Over the past year, I have seen several good examples of e-health in action in Maureen Macmillan's far-flung region. For example, in Fort William I saw the communication between general practitioners and hospitals with regard to appointments and discharge levels and in Shetland and the more remote bits of Argyll and Clyde, I have seen the transmission of clinical images, such as X-rays and ultrasound scans, over long distances.
Remote and rural areas are already enjoying advantages because of e-health, but they will also benefit from further, more general, advantages, three of which I flagged up in my previous answer. Those advantages are first, the increase in investment; secondly, the leadership of clinicians, which is a new and emphatic feature; and thirdly, the development of an integrated care effort, which is absolutely fundamental to the more integrated health service that is outlined in the white paper and which we are determined to create.
Mental Health (Elderly People)
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that elderly people with mental health problems receive the care and support that they require. (S1O-6658)
"Partnership for Care" continues our focus on prevention, early detection and prompt access to seamless support for all care groups, including older people. Local progress is monitored through the performance assessment framework and by the visiting mental health and well-being support group.
Is the minister aware of reports that people who are suffering from dementia are being disadvantaged in respect of finding care home places and that people are losing care home places in parts of the country such as South Ayrshire. Will she consider introducing supplementary funding to cover the extra costs that care homes incur in caring for people with dementia? I believe that that happens in England and Wales.
I am aware that a number of authorities, including South Ayrshire, are having further discussions about the provision of care home places. We hope that those discussions will come to a successful conclusion fairly soon. In recognising the additional needs of those who suffer from dementia, we take every action possible to ensure that places at care homes are provided locally for those who need them.
With reference to the Scottish Executive's "The same as you?" document, what thought has the minister given to institutional care and what progress has been made in that regard? What flexibility do ministers have, particularly with respect to withdrawing some of the stated intents for closure? I am thinking of the excellent Arrol Park development in Ayr.
My understanding is that that place does not seek to offer services for those who suffer from dementia. However, the Executive is taking forward the "The same as you?" document to ensure that individuals are given the adequate provision that they need in the community. I think that the majority of those people want to be part of their communities. With the support that we can offer through the various departments across the Executive, we can ensure that those people get the satisfactory support that they need.
Is the minister aware that the recently announced review of adult mental health services in Tayside proposes the closure of acute beds in Angus and Perth and the concentration of services at the Carseview hospital in Dundee, which is a public-private partnership hospital that is run for profit by the private sector on a 25-year lease? Given that Carseview was built to service Dundee, what reassurance can the minister give that the needs of elderly people and of all other groups with mental health problems in Tayside will come before the need for profit of the PPP that runs Carseview?
The fact that we have spent the past two days debating mental health provision shows the Executive's commitment to ensuring that all people are offered the service that they need. I have to be honest and say that I am not aware of the case to which Mr McAllion referred. I believe, however, that people accept the provision of modern, up-to-date facilities to provide for their needs. Whether that provision is by PPP is probably not their first concern.
Anti-social Behaviour (Community Wardens)
To ask the Scottish Executive how initiatives such as community warden schemes can help to tackle anti-social behaviour. (S1O-6687)
Community warden schemes provide a visible presence on the streets to reassure residents and work with other agencies to tackle anti-social behaviour. Last week, I launched the consultation document "Building Strong, Safe and Attractive Communities", which sets out how warden schemes and other grassroots initiatives can create a "no tolerance" culture for anti-social behaviour in all Scotland's communities.
I have heard that the Tories are against the community warden scheme. However, in my constituency, in areas such as Saughton Mains, residents are desperate for support and action on anti-social behaviour. Will the minister outline how she sees community wardens working in partnership with the police to tackle anti-social behaviour?
If the Tories are against the scheme, that would prove yet again that they go against the wishes of local communities. I will be kind to them and say that I assume their opposition to be based on a misunderstanding of the scheme. When the warden scheme was introduced in England, there were initial reservations about whether policing should be in place instead of wardens. However, that view is now largely corrected by all involved. People understand that the warden scheme is complementary to police activities—it allows the police to get on with their core duty of dealing with crime while the wardens tackle other issues such as graffiti, act as professional witnesses and so forth. That is why the First Minister had the support of Strathclyde police when he launched the scheme and why I had the support of Lothian and Borders police when I recently visited Broomhouse. I think that I will listen to the police rather than the Tories on this matter.
Does the minister accept that, although we believe that wardens can play a valuable role in an appropriate context, there is still an overwhelming need for far more high-visibility policing in certain areas?
I absolutely agree that we also need more high-visibility policing. This is not an either/or matter. We need both wardens and policing. I am sure that the member will join me in congratulating this Executive on providing record numbers of police officers on the streets.
Health Funding
To ask the Scottish Executive whether funding under the Arbuthnott formula is being used to address poverty, deprivation and access to national health service care and treatment. (S1O-6664)
The record growth in health funding is distributed through the Arbuthnott formula to ensure that all areas of Scotland benefit, especially areas of deprivation and remote and rural areas.
In recent weeks, it has become apparent that additional moneys received by Highland NHS Board have been used to pay off its end-of-year financial deficit. How will the minister monitor spending that is allocated through the Arbuthnott formula, and what will he do in future when health trusts use the money for purposes other than those intended?
Mary Scanlon knows that the way to monitor the situation is through the performance assessment framework, of which targeting money at health inequalities is a key objective. It is also a critical objective of the health improvement challenge, which we launched on Monday. For the first time, we are developing indicators that will allow us to measure health inequalities and ensure that we close those gaps between the richest and poorest communities. Furthermore, health boards are required, for the first time, to implement health and homelessness action plans. As a result, Mary Scanlon can be assured that health boards are doing more than they have in the past about poverty and inequality. That said, I accept that there is more to do. That fundamental intention underlies all the health improvement work that we launched on Monday.
Does the minister share my concern that funding is not being made available to deal with some of the serious health issues in Glasgow Springburn? For example, statistics show that lung cancer is 93 per cent above the Scottish average and that there is also a serious problem with heart disease. Will he give a commitment that Glasgow Springburn will receive additional funding to deal with those problems?
Although Glasgow has benefited from the Arbuthnott formula, I certainly recognise that city's particular health needs. Indeed, the health board in question will have to deal with such issues in the way that it spends its money.
Paul Martin mentioned both heart disease and cancer. Notwithstanding some difficulties, which I am always prepared to admit, I think that we should all recognise that considerable progress has been made on the cancer strategy over the past year. Indeed, that was acknowledged at question time last Thursday when we discussed the "Scotland against cancer" conference. Furthermore, we have introduced a major new heart disease initiative. Glasgow, among others, will benefit from the extra investment in that respect and from the new way of delivering care through the formation of managed clinical networks for coronary heart disease in every board area.
The minister is aware that the Arbuthnott formula leaves Grampian at a severe disadvantage, as the area receives the lowest level of funding in Scotland despite having some of the country's longest waiting times. Is he prepared to address that?
I also turn the minister's attention to the views of Grampian general practitioners, who claim that the new GP funding formula will leave them with a 15 per cent pay cut. Will he confirm to the chamber that he will not accept any new funding formula for GPs under the proposed new contracts that will mean that they will receive less funding instead of the expected increase?
That question raises two major issues. I realise that I have answered the question about Arbuthnott before; however, perhaps I should put the matter in another way. In the last year before the Arbuthnott formula was implemented, Grampian received an increase of 5.5 per cent. This April, under Arbuthnott, Grampian will receive an increase of 7.4 per cent. I accept that the increase is not quite as large as that in Glasgow. However, Richard Lochhead will have heard Paul Martin's comments about Glasgow's particular needs, with which I entirely agree. We have to keep the matter in perspective. Is Richard Lochhead really saying that he wants Grampian to get exactly the same funding per head as Glasgow? More fundamentally, does the SNP health spokesperson feel the same way?
On the second point, there are still issues to be resolved around the GP contract, but there has been a lot of misinformation about that. Only about 60 per cent of the money is distributed under the formula. It may be that it appears that there are losses there. However, they will be made up for—and in most cases more than made up for—by all the other new parts of the contract, such as the quality payments, which are an important feature of the new contract in relation to the modernisation and the improvement of services.
Joint Future Agenda
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in taking forward the joint future agenda. (S1O-6677)
We are making good progress on the joint future agenda. Nationally, we have set up a new partnership of the Executive, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and NHS Scotland to oversee implementation and development of the policy. We are working towards joint resourcing and joint meetings for older people's services to improve the quality of community care and support services for Scotland's older people.
Will the minister tell me what plans the Scottish Executive has to research professional dilemmas and decision-making issues arising from the implementation of the single shared assessment?
We have in our implementation group a series of professional interests, such as those representing staff and trade unions, from those who are involved in the delivery of the service to those who plan the service. We believe that through the group there is the capacity to address the concerns that have been highlighted recently by the Royal College of Nursing, for example, to try to ensure that we have a partnership approach. The real target is improving the service for Scotland's older people. As I travel around the country, I find that people are interested in hearing how we can remove the barriers to service delivery to ensure that there is a seamless approach for the individual and maximum opportunity. We are using public resources effectively to deliver a genuine difference for people who need those community care services.
School Buildings
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to further improve school buildings and ensure that pupils have a modern learning environment. (S1O-6688)
On 19 March, I announced financial support to local authorities for further investment in school buildings through public-private partnerships, with a total capital value of almost £750 million. That is in addition to the £1.2 billion announced in June 2002 and the additional £110 million over three years made available through the schools fund.
I warmly welcome the minister's announcement this week. Does she agree that investment in Edinburgh schools' infrastructure is vital to support the capital's economic prosperity, particularly in the light of continued population growth? Does she agree that the £180 million investment announced for Edinburgh this week will provide an unparalleled opportunity to rebuild schools such as Portobello High School, which is the largest secondary school in Edinburgh, so that the learning environment is fit for purpose and fit for the future?
That was a fairly long question, so I am tempted to give a very short answer: yes, absolutely.
Does the minister agree that children in Roman Catholic schools also deserve to receive their education in new and refurbished premises? If so, why has the Scottish Executive reneged on assurances of additional funding for a new Roman Catholic school in Dundee via the PPP allocation? Is it acceptable that most of the extra £20 million that is needed will now have to be found from Dundee City Council's over-stretched resources?
My support for the provision of Roman Catholic education has been stated in this chamber on a number of occasions. It is simply not true that the Executive has somehow reneged on a commitment, as Irene McGugan suggests. Dundee City Council has received an allocation under the PPP projects. It has the opportunity within that financial allocation to decide what it does locally. The local member, Kate Maclean, has been active, along with the leader of the council, Julie Sturrock, in coming to a solution to the problem. I have confidence that the council will deliver what is best locally.
Will the minister assure us that in the school improvement programme she will give priority to split-site schools with 1950s classroom huts in their playgrounds, such as Bell Baxter High School in Cupar, and to schools whose rolls are bigger than what they were built for, such as Kinross High School?
Of course the member knows that I visited Bell Baxter High School at an early stage in my ministerial career. It is for the local authority to prioritise. I am aware of the situation with that school and others that are on split sites. I repeat that it is a matter for the local authority to ensure that they prioritise, dealing first with the worst cases. The circumstances that prevail in some of our schools are simply not acceptable learning environments.
I hope that the minister will have time to read the environmental statement that is being prepared at Portobello High School. Is she prepared to press the Executive to audit urgently the environmental standards of all public buildings that have been completed to date under private finance initiative and public-private partnership agreements? Will she also urge the Executive to issue updated planning guidance that is designed to ensure maximum environmental standards in the interests of pupils, staff, health, learning and long-term energy savings that could put millions of pounds back into our educational system?
Again, this matter has been raised on several occasions. During the preparation of a school estate strategy, we made it clear that we want environmental considerations and sustainability to be a key feature. We want schools that have top quality design, that are fit for purpose, and that take these factors into account. Robin Harper and many others in the chamber have made representations on this matter, and local authorities will consider those in preparing their business cases and plans.
The £60 million school investment recently announced for the Stirling area was warmly welcomed. Does the minister agree that the funds that have been included for the Raploch campus school and their use within an urban regeneration company for regenerating the whole area will be a model for the rest of Scotland?
I am aware of the work that is being done in the Stirling area. It is very innovative and gives a good example of joined-up working that other areas will want to take on board.
Question 8 has been withdrawn.
Red Squirrels (Parapox Virus)
To ask the Scottish Executive what immediate action it will take to prevent the spread of the parapox virus from the identified outbreak in Sefton, Merseyside, into the Scottish red squirrel population. (S1O-6654)
I am aware of the discovery earlier this month of the outbreak of parapox virus in the Merseyside population of red squirrels. Initial assessment by the University of Liverpool indicates that that is a local problem. The Scottish Executive, Scottish Natural Heritage and those institutions undertaking research into the virus will monitor the situation and advise me if there is any indication that Scottish squirrels are at risk. For a number of years the Scottish Executive has been funding the Moredun Research Institute to research parapox viruses. One of the aims of this research is to develop a vaccine against squirrel parapox virus.
I thank the minister for his detailed answer and I shall ask two brief follow-up questions. First, I am interested to know what action the minister is likely to take to ensure that all Scottish red squirrels are ultimately vaccinated against the disease. Secondly, and more seriously, will he acknowledge that, if the disease becomes more common in the remaining populations of red squirrels in England, the Scottish population will become significantly more important for the survival of the species in the longer term? Given the Parliament's record on protecting some of the less desirable members of our wildlife community, will he acknowledge that the squirrels deserve our support?
I recognise the member's long-standing interest in Scottish squirrels. Current information indicates no serious threat to Scottish red squirrels, as members will be pleased to learn. The early indications are that the Merseyside outbreak appears to be confined to a relatively isolated population of red squirrels in a remote area of the Merseyside coast. I suspect that, as long as Celtic supporters do not bring back any grey squirrels from what I hope will be their successful night at Anfield, Scotland's red squirrel population will be safe for the foreseeable future.
The minister may not be aware that the cross-party animal welfare group was last night discussing the health of hedgehogs, particularly those that are to be transported. Does he think that the convener and members of the cross-party group should put red squirrels on their next agenda?
As I said, I do not believe that the Scottish red squirrel population is currently at risk from the parapox virus. However, a serious point should be made. Transporting animals of any species is not a good thing in the hedgehog context. [Laughter.] People who move wild animals away from their natural habitat may be well-meaning and motivated, but they do the animals no favours.
Universities (Meetings)
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will next meet representatives of universities. (S1O-6686)
Ministers and officials meet regularly with representatives of higher education institutions to discuss matters of interest. Subject to the outcome of the election, the next scheduled ministerial meeting with key stakeholders is due to take place in June this year.
Recently, the Prime Minister said:
"people should go to university based on their merit whatever their class background".—[Official Report, House of Commons; 26 Feb 2003; Vol 400, c 257.]
Does the minister agree? When he next meets representatives of the universities, will he tell them—if he is the minister at the time—that they should not introduce an admissions policy that subverts that principle?
HE institutions in Scotland are clear that widening access is a key priority. The approach here is different from that in England. There is 50 per cent participation in higher education in Scotland. Widening access is our key priority. Although admissions policy is a matter for the individual institution and should be transparent and should not compromise academic standards, the universities understand that we believe that there is merit in considering wider issues than simply exam results and in considering factors that have a good correlation with the potential for achieving success and excellence at university.
Is the minister aware of the growing anxiety of university leaders in Scotland about the Executive's ability to respond to their growing funding crisis? Unlike the minister's colleagues, those people do not blame him for the system, but blame the system itself and the constraints that are placed on it by the Scottish Parliament and the Executive's outdated mode of funding. How can it make sense that, if the rest of the United Kingdom becomes more dependent on top-up fees and private funding for higher education, the Parliament and the Executive will lose out financially through the functioning of the arcane Barnett formula? Will the minister open his mind to the reality that if we have independent policy control, we should also have independent control of finances?
Mr Wilson is never one to let the facts get in the way of a good story. In Scotland, we fund higher education at a level that is 20 per cent higher per head of population than in England. Wales aspires to our level of funding of higher education. Our set-up serves higher education and Scotland's young people well.
We know that the minister will be part of a ministerial team after the forthcoming elections. [Interruption.]
Let us just have a question.
If I could get the opportunity—
Let us just have a question without a prelude.
I would ask a question if I had the opportunity to do so. [Interruption.]
The member should proceed with the question. [Interruption.] Order.
I am obliged, Presiding Officer. When the minister meets university representatives, will he ensure that representatives of student bodies—and the National Union of Students Scotland in particular—will be included in discussions when decisions are to be made?
I have had discussions with NUS Scotland in the past couple of hours. I gave it an absolute assurance that when we come to the third phase of our higher education review, which will consider the implications of the changes in funding in England and how we will respond to them in Scotland, it will be included.
Planning Guidelines (Opencast Mines and Landfill)
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to alter planning guidelines for local authorities on opencast mining and landfill. (S1O-6681)
Research is under way on the operation and effectiveness of current guidance on opencast coal. The researchers are expected to report in the autumn, when a decision will be taken on whether the guidance should be reviewed. Separate planning guidance exists for waste management facilities. There are no immediate plans to amend the waste management guidance.
I am somewhat disappointed that a decision will not be taken as to whether there should be change. Will the minister give an assurance that the review of national planning policy guideline 16—NPPG 16—will ensure that all the potentially damaging applications in an area and not just other opencast operations will be considered? That will mean that all applications will be assessed—not just the opencast ones—in villages such as Fauldhouse in West Lothian, where there are multiple landfill and opencast applications.
I am aware of the issues in Fauldhouse, which the constituency MSP, Mary Mulligan, in particular has drawn to my attention.
Even under the present arrangements, when reaching decisions on individual applications, planning authorities should take into account the cumulative effect of a number of developments that can exacerbate the impact on local communities. That is covered in NPPG 16. However, the research that is under way will consider whether that guideline is robust enough to meet the desired objective of adequately protecting communities and the environment from the unacceptable adverse consequences of opencasting.
It is proposed that the full range of guidance that is incorporated in NPPG 16 will be assessed, including the issue of cumulative impacts. The researchers will formulate a view on whether any aspects of the guidance need to be reviewed. We await their recommendations, but I am sure that once we have them we will consider all the issues and act on them.
Does the minister agree that it is essential that as part of any review of planning legislation we ensure that we create a greater opportunity for communities to influence those planning decisions that affect them?
Karen Whitefield has made an important point. There are issues in the present planning system to do with a community's capacity to influence the decision-making process. In the near future, we will consider consulting people about how local communities and individuals can involve themselves in the planning process.
Renewable Energy (Zonal Charges)
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets and Her Majesty's Government about the impact of proposed zonal charges for transmission losses on the promotion of renewable energy generation. (S1O-6680)
We have worked closely with Ofgem and the Department of Trade and Industry to ensure that the new British electricity trading and transmission arrangements will work for the benefit of Scottish consumers and generators of electricity in Scotland. We are looking very carefully at the Ofgem proposals for transmission and will ensure that the Scottish interest is heard. It is of the utmost importance that the production of renewable energy in the remoter and less-populated areas remains viable.
Most of Scotland's renewable energy potential is in coastal and island areas, such as my own constituency of Shetland. Does the minister accept that there is a need to ensure that the cost of installing or upgrading large capacity grid connections for those areas neither stops such developments nor hits domestic or business consumers disproportionately hard?
I accept that. As the member will be aware, an integral part of the BETTA arrangements is that if improvements are made as they were originally consulted on, transmission costs and the cost of grid upgrades will be borne equitably by the whole population. It is important for the Scottish Executive to work hand in hand with the DTI to ensure that Ofgem proposals are implemented in a way that will be highly beneficial to the member's constituency.
I will add three minutes' injury time to question time and First Minister's question time.
A76 (Sanquhar to Kirkconnel)
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to deal with traffic issues on the A76 between Sanquhar and Kirkconnel. (S1O-6698)
Earlier today I announced that we will address traffic issues on the A76 by building a climbing lane at Glenairlie, south of Sanquhar. The previous proposal to realign the road at Gateside, north of Sanquhar, will not now proceed.
The minister will know that improving the road south of Sanquhar does not deal with issues north of Sanquhar, between Sanquhar and Kirkconnel. Given that that is an accident black spot—there have been several accidents there recently—is the minister saying that we must simply put up with the situation? Is he saying that it is beyond the wit of man—or of the Executive—to deal with it? Will he undertake to consider the matter again?
I am not saying either of the things that Alasdair Morgan suggested. On the contrary, the scheme at Glenairlie that I have announced today is the option that we have chosen to address problems of traffic delays on the A76. I recognise that there are problems on the north side of Sanquhar, to which the member referred. The scheme at Gateside has been abandoned because of a failure to agree with local farmers and landowners on access. That is to be regretted, but we are continuing to consider other options for convoy busting, to reduce the backlog of vehicles behind slow-moving vehicles on the stretch of road between Sanquhar and Kirkconnel.
The minister will be aware of correspondence between us on the prioritisation of improvements to the A76, the most recent of which has resulted in what is essentially a long smart new pavement with a green stripe where the A76 enters Dumfries. Does he agree that the considerable amount of money that has been spent on what is an entirely cosmetic improvement would have been far better spent on alterations that would improve safety on what is, as Alasdair Morgan pointed out, an unsafe road? Does the minister agree that he should urgently revisit the prioritisation of such investment, as I have asked him to do before?
I do not agree that the measures that we have taken to improve visibility on the A76 are in any way cosmetic or beside the point. On the contrary, they are part of a strategy for addressing safety issues on the road—the Glenairlie scheme that we announced today is also part of that strategy. We will continue to use that approach for that route.
Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Meetings)
To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and what matters were discussed. (S1O-6694)
My last engagement with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency was on 24 February to announce the launch of the national waste plan. My officials are in daily contact with the agency on a range of issues relating to the protection of Scotland's environment.
Is the minister aware that my constituents in north-east Fife have for many years enjoyed the use of unstaffed civic amenity sites, which are especially welcome in rural villages and which have helped to reduce the environmental damage caused by fly-tipping? Is he also aware that because of licensing conditions being imposed by SEPA, those sites are threatened with closure? Does he accept that that is not in the interests of the environment because it will force residents to drive large distances to staffed sites and will inevitably lead to an increase in fly-tipping? Will the minister raise those concerns with SEPA?
I am aware of the problem to which the member refers. He will be aware that the matter is difficult and that it is an operational concern for SEPA, which has evidence that some of the sites to which the member refers are being used illegally by commercial operators. That has given rise to SEPA introducing regulations on the matter. However, I take the member's point that the imposition of those regulations might be counterproductive in that they might result in fly-tipping and I will be happy to raise that matter with SEPA.
During the minister's discussion with SEPA, was any consideration given to the creation of a national flood plan? When will the ad hoc ministerial group on flooding, which was due to report in February, make its report known to Parliament?
The outcomes of the group's report have been made public and have been discussed—SEPA is part of those arrangements. The member will find that the results and report of the group, which was chaired by my colleague the Deputy First Minister, have been produced.
When the minister last met SEPA, did he discuss the radioactive particles that have been found at Dounreay? Is the minister aware that each particle contains strontium-90, yttrium-90, technetium-99, caesium-137, enriched uranium and plutonium? Will he ensure that, because of that highly dangerous material that exists in the area of Dounreay and Sandside, where there is a beach that is open to the public, a full and comprehensive study be undertaken in the area with immediate effect?
The member is obviously aware that radioactive waste has been found at Dounreay because he has correctly articulated the levels and amounts. He will also be aware that the regulatory authorities share his concerns and that the matter is being addressed within the powers that those authorities have. There is nothing further to add.
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