Meeting of the Parliament

Meeting date: Thursday, May 20, 2010

Official Report 1083KB pdf

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Scottish Executive Question Time

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Education and Lifelong Learning

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Schools (Music Teaching)

1. To ask the Scottish Executive what support it gives to music teaching in schools. (S3O-10576)

As part of the expressive arts, music is an important and integral part of the curriculum for excellence. The curriculum guidance sets out the opportunities that learners will have to be creative, to experience enjoyment and to develop their skills in performing and creating music. Instrumental music tuition strengthens and supports the delivery of the curriculum. Through the youth music initiative, all local authorities receive funding to help to widen access to free music tuition, with £67.5 million invested in YMI for this spending review period. However, the exact allocation of its own resources is, of course, a matter for each local authority.

Does the cabinet secretary find it acceptable that, as highlighted in a BBC “Panorama” programme, front-line services are being affected in Fife and elsewhere by cuts to music education budgets? For example, Fife Council has entered into a 90-day notice period in which it is consulting the relevant trade unions on cuts in this session of 12 music teacher posts, which will mean a loss of music education opportunities for young musicians. Indeed, there will be a total loss from the education budget over two sessions of 50 per cent.

No member in the chamber who knows me would think that I regard as acceptable the loss of any aspect of education provision, particularly in the creative arts, in which I have spent a great deal of my career, but it is equally unacceptable not to recognise the reality of the situation in which we find ourselves. I will not labour the point of the £500 million cuts that we have already received, although Helen Eadie would have been in a good position to argue the case with the former Prime Minister given that, during the election, I kept seeing pictures of her in his company. Perhaps she could have put the case there and then.

As times get harder and harder, it is incumbent on every member to stand up for what they believe in and what should be delivered but also to have a responsible attitude to the problems that we all face. So far, I have found certain members on the Labour benches deficient in that regard.

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Curriculum for Excellence

2. To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to address concerns among parents and teachers regarding the curriculum for excellence, including in relation to the level of preparation for its introduction. (S3O-10599)

We are working closely with the management board, which represents a wide range of educational interests. It has assured me that the implementation plans are realistic and achievable. I have met teacher unions including the Scottish Secondary Teachers’ Association and the Educational Institute of Scotland on a regular basis. I have also enjoyed many visits to schools where I have seen the curriculum for excellence in action. Through the depth and breadth of that engagement, I understand the strong interest in ensuring that the curriculum for excellence is successful. I recently launched the 10-point plan to provide greater clarity and further build the confidence of individual teachers and parents in the curriculum for excellence.

The cabinet secretary will recall the Education, Culture and Sport Committee’s inquiry into the Scottish Qualifications Authority in the first session of the Parliament. He will also recall some of the problems leading to the SQA debacle, which included the fact that the new system had not bedded in and, more important, the fact that communication between the various parties, including the SQA and education authorities, was not good. Will he listen to parents and teachers who are saying that schools are simply not ready, so that we ensure that the curriculum for excellence is successful and we do not end up in the same mess that we did with the SQA?

I listen all the time to parents, teachers and those who are involved in education. It is misleading to say that the message that the member described is consistent across the education sector. A vast number of teachers and parents throughout Scotland rejoice in the fact that this change is taking place; they are fully engaged with it. I draw the member’s attention to a news release from the EIS last Friday, which said:

“Scottish education needs CfE to succeed, so we must work together to ensure that this will happen.”

I remember the inquiry into the SQA; I sat with Cathy Peattie on that inquiry and I greatly enjoyed the period that I spent on the Education, Culture and Sport Committee with her. However, I remind her of another thing that that committee did: at the end of its period in existence, it held an inquiry into the purposes of Scottish education and laid out in a report what it felt had to change in Scottish education for it to succeed. I reread that report recently; indeed, I discussed it with a group of educationists yesterday and I will talk about it in the weeks to come. It outlined exactly what the curriculum for excellence should be and provided the foundation for it. We were united across the political parties that that was what we needed to do.

Therefore, I plead with the member and all the other Labour members to think of those words from Ronnie Smith—

“Scottish education needs CfE to succeed, so we must work together to ensure that this will happen”—

and to remember the outcomes of the inquiry into the purposes of Scottish education. Let us work together to ensure that the curriculum for excellence is a great success.

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Education (Funding)

3. To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to protect education funding. (S3O-10601)

The Scottish Government is committed to protecting key front-line services, such as our schools and, indeed, our hospitals. For example, the most recent figures available for gross education expenditure across all of Scotland’s local authorities show a 2.57 per cent increase from 2007-08 to 2008-09. However, we do not underestimate the challenge that is presented to us by the current economic climate and the predictions for future United Kingdom and Scottish public expenditure. We await the outcome of the emergency budget in Westminster on 22 June 2010, as it will be of critical importance to the overall Scottish budget. Until then, the member can be assured that we will continue to make a strong case to the UK Government that is in the best interests of the Scottish economy, the Scottish people and Scottish education.

I point out to the minister that the underfunded council tax freeze does not help. Does he support the Educational Institute of Scotland’s why must our children pay? campaign, which many parents in my constituency support because they are worried about cuts in education services? Does he accept that they are also angered by the broken Scottish National Party promise to reduce class sizes, the massive reduction in teacher numbers and the Government’s mishandling of the implementation of the curriculum for excellence? Will he now apologise for those broken promises and commit to changing his party’s approach to education?

Much as I respect Elaine Smith, I am fully familiar with the fact that she could be described as being of the glass-half-empty school of politics rather than the glass-half-full one. I reject utterly the points that she made, which I think are fatuous and wrong. We need to stand against such rhetoric because of the true situation. If the convener of the Education, Lifelong Learning and Culture Committee, who is desperately keen to engage in the debate from a sedentary position, has not seen the reality of education budgets being put under enormous strain by private finance initiative projects, which the former Labour Government thought were the best way to invest in education but which are crippling local authority expenditure, she should look at the facts and the budgets, and then work with the Government to resist cuts from Westminster. I have to say to Elaine Smith—it is about time that she recognised this with her noble rhetoric—that the real enemy is not here but there on the Tory side.

I was going to be so kind to the cabinet secretary, but I might have to rethink my strategy. Does he agree that the priority is to protect spending on front-line services in schools. If we can find savings in administration and management, we should go down that road. In that respect, does he welcome the action that is being taken by East Lothian Council, as outlined at its excellent recent conference, to promote the idea of trust schools?

I am sure that members know that Murdo Fraser was moved to the health portfolio today. I will miss his interventions, but not necessarily that one. He is trying to beguile me into agreeing with him on a set of issues, but I will not. Certainly, the work that the SNP-controlled East Lothian Council is undertaking is important in looking at new possibilities. He will find me quite willing to accept that we need to be more imaginative in how we deliver. What he will not find me willing to accept is that a process of Westminster-driven cutting should affect the prospects for our children. In a country that is rich in resources, it is overwhelmingly logical and financially sensible that we should control our own affairs and budgets and spend them to our own priorities, and the great logic of that cannot be overcome either by Elaine Smith or by Murdo Fraser.

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Curriculum for Excellence

4. To ask the Scottish Executive what evidence it has that all teachers are being given adequate support in the lead up to the implementation of the curriculum for excellence. (S3O-10549)

We have identified support needs through Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education findings from inspections, advice from Bill Maxwell, the senior chief inspector of HMIE, and discussion with headteacher and teacher associations. We are responding to those needs by providing a range of support, most recently through the 10-point plan. We have written to all schools, giving them clear commitments on the timetable for delivery of that support and we are monitoring that programme closely to ensure that it is delivered. We continue to engage with teachers, headteachers, teacher unions and associations as well as with the directors of education to ensure the successful implementation of the curriculum for excellence.

Is the cabinet secretary aware of the results of a workload survey that was conducted by the Scottish Secondary Teachers’ Association, which revealed that nearly 54 per cent of teachers are working in the order of 400 hours extra for their employers each year? Does he regard that as acceptable? What action does he intend to take to ensure that the implementation of the curriculum for excellence does not worsen the situation and put even more pressure on our hard-pressed teachers?

There is no reason why the implementation of the curriculum for excellence should do that. The curriculum for excellence is not about changing the basic content of education; it is about changing the methodology. Indeed, in a system that the Education, Culture and Sport Committee endorsed in the first session—a system that is predicated on the professionalism and commitment of teachers—we rely on teachers to do their job well, and that should liberate them to a degree. One of the great problems that we found in the committee’s inquiry eight years ago was that too much pressure is put on teachers to do things that they should not be asked to do. They should be encouraged to teach, and that is what the curriculum for excellence does. In all those circumstances, it should be seen for what it is: a positive development in education.

I am aware of the workload survey and all the survey work that the SSTA has undertaken. Indeed, when Mr McNulty and I were present at the SSTA dinner two weeks ago, I took the opportunity to talk to many representatives of the SSTA. I support every teacher in the process of implementing the curriculum for excellence and I am putting the Government’s money where my mouth is by ensuring that all our resource is devoted to that. I am grateful to Bill Maxwell for the actions that he has taken, as the senior chief inspector, to enable that to happen and for the announcement that he made last Friday.

None of the people with whom I spoke at the SSTA dinner felt liberated as a result of the implementation of the curriculum for excellence. Neither did that adjective come out of either of the two surveys. I ask the cabinet secretary to ask those members of HMIE who will still be doing their normal jobs—those who are in charge of inspections in primary schools—to look, as a matter of urgency, into the situation whereby some schools appear to be ditching their maths schemes in the context of implementing the curriculum for excellence. If that were to be extended to a significant number of schools in Scotland, I would view that as entirely unacceptable. Is the minister aware of that? What steps will he take to ensure that it does not happen?

I will be happy to discover whether there is any danger to the teaching of maths in primary schools. I have had no indication whatever of that. Indeed, the indications from primary schools of the way in which maths can be integrated into a topic-led approach under the curriculum for excellence are overwhelmingly positive.

I hope that Mr McNulty will bear in mind the quote from Ronnie Smith, which I repeat:

“Scottish education needs CfE to succeed, so we must work together to ensure that this will happen.”

Simply matching every bit of progress that we make in underpinning the curriculum for excellence with a new criticism does not meet the aspiration that the Educational Institute of Scotland clearly has for all politicians to work together to ensure that it happens and happens well.

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North Lanarkshire Council (Meetings)

5. To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met education officials from North Lanarkshire Council. (S3O-10543)

My officials regularly have discussions with local authorities, including North Lanarkshire Council, on a range of issues that are relevant to my portfolio.

Is the cabinet secretary aware that the Labour leadership of North Lanarkshire Council has publicly announced that there will be further significant school closures? What discussions has he had with the council about that? Will he or his officials take any action to minimise the impact of those closures? Will he ensure that any proposals for school closures fully comply with the consultation procedures that came into effect in April?

I give the member a clear assurance that no school closure can take place in Scotland without the statutory framework being in operation. The Government brought in the statutory framework, which has long been lacking in Scotland, to ensure that there is a clear and transparent process should there be a proposal for a school closure. I will not waste the Parliament’s time by going through every paragraph of the legislation, but it is clear that the involvement of parents in a transparent consultative process is at its heart. That means that local authorities have to be up front and honest with every single parent about the reasons for their proposals. They also have to have them looked at by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education for educational reasons. I think that that is positive. The member can be reassured that the full statutory framework will apply.

It is, of course, up to each local authority to decide how they take forward their school estate. Indeed, the system that we have requires that to be so. However, the Government has put itself on the side of parents to ensure that any such proposals are subject to a clear and transparent process.

Does the cabinet secretary recall that the previous Labour-led Administration provided a £150 million funding package to North Lanarkshire Council, which has helped to build 24 new secondary and primary schools? Does he agree that the offer from the Scottish Futures Trust to build only one new school at some time in the future and to fund it only partially simply is not good enough? Will he confirm exactly when North Lanarkshire will be told how much money it is going to get, when it will get it, when it can start to build the new school, and when there will be additional funds for more new schools?

The logic of the member’s position defeats me. If there was a requirement to build 24 new schools and that was done, what is the requirement to build another 24 new schools, unless that is proved within the national context? The member should know—

One new school!

The member will know nothing if she keeps shouting from a sedentary position. The possibility is that I might be able to teach her something.

I doubt it.

She doubts it. I really am beginning to wonder whether I should bother answering questions from the member, but I will persevere, because we need to put some facts on the record.

The first fact is that the Government has contributed more to taking pupils out of unacceptable accommodation than our predecessors did. That is just a fact. That is exactly what has happened. [Interruption.] It is not just the member who has started to scream. Now they are all screaming. That means that I must be getting it right. [Interruption.]

I cannot be shouted down, Presiding Officer, but I hope that you will intervene to allow me to speak without being shouted down. In those circumstances, let me make the second important point. We have put in place a transparent and open process to support local authorities on the issue of renewing their school estate. That continues to take place.

The third point that I will make—if you will indulge me for one moment, Presiding Officer—is that there is a real problem with a party that, faced with the difficulties that we see coming over the horizon, which are largely difficulties of its making, finds its response only in screaming, shouting, arguing all the time for no change at all and frequently defending the indefensible, because it will continue to find itself out of tune with reality, Scottish public opinion and what parents want and need.

Is the cabinet secretary aware of the high number of incidents of violence against staff in council schools in North Lanarkshire? The number has reached an all-time high, having increased in each of the past five years. He will be aware that the Conservatives have suggested introducing second chance centres where persistently unruly pupils can refocus their lives. What plans does he have to ensure that teachers and staff in North Lanarkshire feel safe in their schools?

The first tactic that I would take is to ensure that I was not scaremongering on the issue. Having seen some of the coverage of the issue over the past 48 hours, I have to say that those members who thought that it was to their temporary political advantage to talk up a situation that exists only in a very small number of schools and with a small number of pupils are doing Scottish education a disservice, and that the way in which the question was phrased did education in North Lanarkshire a disservice.

When there are cases of unacceptable behaviour by pupils in schools—the number of such cases is not at anything like a record high—that needs to be dealt with firmly and vigorously by the schools with support from the local authority and the Government, but if members honestly believe that the best way for them to make political progress is to misrepresent the behaviour of hundreds of thousands of good pupils in thousands of good schools, they will damage Scottish education for petty political purposes. I refer members back to the quote from Ronnie Smith. The chamber should rise above such behaviour in the interests of Scottish education and Scottish children.

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Forest Schools

6. To ask the Scottish Executive what support it has given to develop forest schools across Scotland. (S3O-10559)

Forest schools are a key part of our woods for learning strategy and are targeted at the four capacities of the curriculum for excellence.

Over the past three years, we have invested around £500,000 in forest schools, mainly through staff resources and funding programmes that are administered by the Forestry Commission Scotland. The schools are spread throughout Scotland. There are now more than 100 qualified leaders, and a similar number are undergoing training. Forest kindergartens, which are forest schools for the early years, are also in place. Outdoor learning is an essential element of a child’s education, and we are committed to continuing to increase the number of forest schools and kindergartens. To that end, I recently held discussions with the Minister for Environment and the director of the Forestry Commission Scotland. I hope that we can maximise the resource across Government in pursuit of that aim.

I thank the minister for his response, in which he has partly dealt with my supplementary question. I have been extremely impressed by the positive aspects of forest schools at Haddo house in Aberdeenshire. They play a clear role in teaching children to work as a team, developing their social responsibility, getting them into the open air and improving their fitness. I am keen for the programme to be expanded right across Scotland. The minister has given me encouragement that that is the intention. Is it genuinely the case that the programme covers the whole country, or do gaps remain? The development of forest schools is an excellent policy to pursue.

Regrettably, there are still gaps to be covered, but we should probably dispel any myth about forest schools. I was slightly concerned to hear muttering from the Labour benches when the question was asked. One of the most impressive forest school initiatives that I have seen recently was in Tollcross in Glasgow, where the children were taking part in forest school activity in a neighbouring park. Forest schools can contribute greatly to—[Interruption.] There is further shouting from members; I am surprised about that. It is important that forest schools are recognised as contributing to every part of society. If some people cannot get their heads round such innovative education, perhaps I could invite them to go and visit a forest school, which would enable them to discover how important such schools are.

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Europe, External Affairs and Culture

Question 1 has not been lodged.

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Access to Information (Games for Scotland)

2. To ask the Scottish Executive what is being done to ensure that British Sign Language users and deafblind people in Scotland have equality of access to information about the games for Scotland programme. (S3O-10575)

The Scottish Government values diversity and equality and works to ensure that all people in Scotland have equal access to information.

As part of the Government’s commitment to enabling diversity and ensuring equality, on 1 June officials will host a workshop with groups that work in the equality and diversity sector. That will allow us to hear from them about how the interests and groups that they represent can best be involved in legacy activity. We will use two BSL/English interpreters to help deaf BSL users who attend the event. The outcomes from the workshop and the comments that are expressed by attendees will be circulated to all stakeholders to inform their programme planning, including their planning for the games for Scotland programme.

I applaud the desire to inspire and develop a range of events and activities looking forward to and beyond 2014 that will take place across the country this year. However, the Government and its partners must include all Scotland’s people in that process. Will the minister ensure that the outcome of the event that is to be held on 1 June is a fully inclusive programme that can engage and encourage all our people to be involved in benefiting from the 2014 games?

I hope that the reassurance that I gave in my first answer deals with the member’s point. I will draw the attention of Shona Robison, the minister who is responsible for such matters, to it. I am aware of Cathie Craigie’s long experience in this area. She might want to write to Shona Robison with suggestions before 1 June, so that they can be considered as part of the preparation process.

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Scotland’s Role in Europe

3. To ask the Scottish Government whether it has plans to meet the new United Kingdom Government regarding Scotland’s role in Europe. (S3O-10631)

We are planning sustained engagement with the new UK Government on European Union issues over the coming weeks. Indeed, that has started already with discussions between the First Minister and the Prime Minister on Friday. A key area to stress is the importance of the Scottish ministers having a greater role at Council of Ministers meetings and the positive contribution that Scotland can make to the UK’s EU engagement. The next joint ministerial committee on Europe, which has been scheduled for early June, will cover a range of issues relating to business at the forthcoming European Council of Ministers and wider co-ordination between the UK Government and devolved Administrations on EU matters.

I thank the minister for that comprehensive answer. Is it her intention to press for the Scottish ministers to be given parity with UK ministers when dealing with the European Union on matters of importance to Scotland, especially renewable energy, given that today’s offshore evaluation study highlighted that Scotland is the offshore energy capital of Europe, which we would all agree demonstrates the huge potential of the industry to Scotland?

We will always pursue Scotland’s interests and ensure that a positive contribution can be made to the deliberations. It is important to understand that the UK will be working with all the devolved Administrations in considering how that representation is taken forward. Clearly, in the four key priority areas for the Scottish Government, of which renewable energy and climate change is one, we would want to see a strong representation at those discussions.

When the minister meets the new UK Government, will she raise the issue of reducing numbers of days at sea for our Scottish fishermen and the inadequacies of the common fisheries policy? TR1 vessels have just been cut back from 140 days to 120 days, only three months into this year’s scheme, and already it appears that Marine Scotland has got the days at sea allocation wrong again. Will she ask the UK Government whether there is anything that it can do to address the problems that our fishermen face?

As the member knows, Richard Lochhead is heavily involved in ensuring that the interests of our fishermen are at the forefront; that is why it was disappointing that the previous Government did not allow him to attend the meeting in Vigo. I hope that that position can be improved in my discussion with the current UK Government. The member can be assured that Richard Lochhead has been pursuing the issue with the UK Government. We will continue to do so, and to ensure that the best interests of Scotland’s fishermen are put first and foremost.

The minister will be aware of the conclusions of the European and External Relations Committee’s reports on Lisbon 2020 and the impact of the financial crisis, and their importance for Scottish stakeholders. Will she undertake, along with cabinet colleagues, to raise recommendations made in the reports with counterparts in the UK departments? Does she agree that such reports give a much-needed voice to organisations throughout Scotland that want to influence that important EU agenda?

The Scottish Government will be considering the committee’s reports. I understand that committees of the Parliament can send their reports directly to the UK Government, and I have no doubt that the European and External Relations Committee has already done that. It is important that we think forward positively and identify areas on which we can work together. Indeed, at the informal culture council meeting in Barcelona, I raised the issue of the creative industries in relation to the Europe 2020 strategy. There are different aspects that we can take forward. I am pleased that, as we debated last week, the Europe 2020 strategy reflects a number of the four key areas that the Scottish Government wants to pursue. We have a constructive and positive role to play.

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Built Heritage

4. To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to protect Scotland’s built heritage and what support it is offering to programmes such as the Dysart townscape heritage initiative that aim to restore Scotland’s unique structures. (S3O-10585)

The Scottish Government shares with all the people of Scotland a pride in our nation’s built heritage. It inspires us and gives us our sense of place. I have recently introduced the Historic Environment (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill to the Parliament. It is a tightly focused, amending bill that makes specific practical improvements to the legal framework for heritage protection and will provide a much improved legislative toolkit to help protect and enhance our rich historic environment for future generations.

The Scottish Government, through Historic Scotland, has awarded £395,000 to the Dysart conservation area regeneration scheme, which is part of a joint local authority, Heritage Lottery Fund and Historic Scotland conservation initiative aimed at addressing the needs of the area.

I am sure that the minister will join me in thanking and congratulating everyone who is involved in that important local initiative.

Which recommendations from the review of building preservation trusts will be acted on as a way to preserve Scotland’s built environment culture, and what support will be given to local building preservation trusts to enable them to continue to restore and maintain Scotland’s important historic built environment?

There are a number of areas in which we can work, particularly with reference to Historic Scotland’s conservation area regeneration scheme, under which 20 local authorities across Scotland have been awarded grants for 20 individual conservation area scheme projects. Just over £30.4 million has been allocated in grants from the original programme reserve, and a further round of bids will be invited for round 4 of the programme.

In addition, the Scottish Government has been supporting a number of other areas. The presence of Jeremy Purvis in the chamber reminds me that I recently visited Abbotsford, where I announced contributions from Historic Scotland, Scottish Enterprise and the Scottish Government of £2.25 million to help the built heritage environment there and to preserve and promote a vital part of Scotland’s culture that is related to Sir Walter Scott.

The minister might be aware of work that I am doing to help to preserve the future of Carluke’s high mill, Scotland’s best-preserved example of a windmill. However, efforts to save it have been thwarted due to the fact that it is privately owned, and the owner has demonstrated absolutely no desire for the building to be maintained or restored.

Does the minister agree that the private owners of buildings with significant historic value have an absolute duty to help to preserve Scotland’s history and a responsibility to do all that they can to ensure that that history is not lost forever?

I understand members’ frustrations with regard to certain buildings, but owners of listed buildings and scheduled monuments are responsible for their upkeep. Ministers encourage them to take that responsibility seriously. We provide advice and, indeed, grants are available from Historic Scotland to assist with repairs. If owners allow buildings to deteriorate, powers are available to allow local authorities to intervene and require repairs to be carried out. I understand that, in the case of Carluke’s high mill, South Lanarkshire Council is actively discussing with the owners the potential to secure its future.

I know that the minister has recently visited the Scottish Mining Museum in Midlothian. Although I welcome the funding that has been made available to the museum, it in no way sustains a long-term and sustainable future for the museum.

If the minister agrees that the museum in Newtongrange is a national—indeed, an international—asset for Scotland, will she finally commit this Government to making it a part of the National Museums of Scotland, which will put our coal-mining heritage up where it belongs, as a central part of Scotland’s cultural heritage?

The member will be aware that the Scottish Government is conducting a review of such matters through the museums think-tank. That will be informed by considerations of our industrial heritage.

I was pleased to visit the museum recently and to make announcements of funding for it. We need to think about international heritage and our national heritage, and what shape that might be. As I saw when I visited the museum, there are challenges in relation to the capital that is required, which might require some challenging thinking. I am open to that and have encouraged all players to think constructively about that.

A solution has to be found and, as someone who comes from Ayrshire, and who is from a mining family, I share the member’s view that our coal-mining heritage is a vital part of Scotland’s culture, history and heritage. We have to find practical ways of taking action around that. I know that the member will continue to lobby effectively on the issue.

The minister has indicated previously that Historic Scotland is to adopt a more realistic attitude in its role of protecting Scotland’s built heritage. What steps have been taken to end the impasse at Crail in Fife, where, as I have previously outlined in the chamber, a derelict wartime airfield was given historic listing, which, for more than a decade, has prevented a local farmer from developing his own land?

I will ask Historic Scotland to tell me what the current situation is and will share that information with the member.

There are situations in which we have to ensure that places are protected but also that there is opportunity for change. The different climate and atmosphere that I know is coming to bear on Historic Scotland through its new leadership is making a difference, but we must ensure that we assess each case on its merits and continue to work with local authorities. The Government is bringing forward plans to engage with local authorities and give them more power where possible, because they are, in many cases, aware of the practical issues surrounding developments.

There are challenges. Previous questions that I have answered today have covered issues such as the requirement for protection. There is not necessarily movement in that area, but some people want development as opposed to preservation. The questions that members have asked in the past few minutes have exhibited the tensions that exist in this area, but we are trying to provide practical steps forward. The forthcoming bill will help the situation, and we have consulted heavily with local authorities to break some of the impasses that exist.

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Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Meetings)

5. To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Minister for Culture and External Affairs has plans to meet the incoming Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs. (S3O-10591)

I look forward to developing a productive relationship with the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, based on principles of mutual respect and parity of esteem. I have no immediate plans to meet the secretary of state, although I hope to meet him when he chairs the next meeting of the joint ministerial committee on Europe, which is scheduled for early June.

When the minister meets the secretary of state, will she impress on him that, although it would be inappropriate for the Scottish Government to duplicate any work by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for International Development, the unique partnership in areas of special interest between Scotland and Malawi that was established by the former First Minister Jack McConnell should continue to be respected and supported?

I will be happy to do so if I get the opportunity. I reassure Michael McMahon that I have already written to the Secretary of State for International Development to make exactly those points.

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Calman Commission (Recommendations)

6. To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the United Kingdom Government regarding its intention to implement the recommendations of the Calman commission on Scottish devolution. (S3O-10541)

The First Minister discussed the UK Government’s plans for implementing the Calman commission recommendations with the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Scotland last Friday.

In my discussions with the secretary of state yesterday, I made clear that the Scottish Government wants early progress on transferring powers to the Scottish Parliament in those areas in which there is agreement. I also raised concerns about the financial aspects of Calman.

Some of those concerns are shared. The Calman report goes into several areas of possible devolution of taxes, but its 266 pages contain very little detail on the implementation of such taxes. The UK Government has not provided such detail either.

Does the Government agree that it is important to devolve control over the structure of air passenger duty rather than just the rate, so that we can use it as an additional lever and disincentive for short-haul domestic aviation? That might give us some faith in the words that I am sure we are about to hear from Stewart Stevenson in the following debate on the replacement of domestic aviation with high-speed rail.

We will agree to disagree on some of the financial aspects of Calman. The climate has moved on in a number of areas in relation to finance. The attitude of the previous Government meant—dare I say it—that some of the Calman recommendations were part of a long-haul operation. The question was whether the recommendations would be implemented, rather than what we would do with the powers once they were implemented. The member is right to raise those issues.

Discussions will continue on which powers can be transferred and what that would achieve. I hope that the new climate will allow us to have an open discussion on the larger areas such as taxation, and on some of the areas in which—as the member mentioned—levers can be used to provide incentives.

I cannot speak on Stewart Stevenson’s behalf, but I suggest that Patrick Harvie comes back on the issue in this afternoon’s debate.

Given that the Parliament voted to support the Calman commission proposals, will the Scottish Government respect its will and urge the new Liberal-Conservative coalition Government to implement all the proposals, including progressing the tax proposals, before the Holyrood elections in 2011?

There was a difference of opinion among all the different parties on the Calman commission proposals. I have answered the first question. There is an open dialogue, which I will continue to pursue in the areas on which there is agreement.

Let us hope that we do not have a continuation of the previous United Kingdom Government’s very slow pace on the issue. Will the minister confirm that, even if the Scottish National Party does not agree with some of the Calman recommendations being implemented, that is not a justification to have them blocked? Does the minister agree that it is for this Parliament to be involved in any further devolution of powers to this Parliament, rather than for an Executive of this Parliament to seek to block them?

I prefer to think in the positive. It would take only 40 days, with Privy Council approval, for some of the orders that are already drafted to make progress. A number of the power changes would require orders in this Parliament and, of course, it would be open to this Parliament to take views on the orders that are presented to it.