Plenary, 20 Nov 2003

Meeting date: Thursday, November 20, 2003

Official Report 819KB pdf

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Question Time

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SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE

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Voting Systems

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it intends to take on voting systems in light of the Electoral Commission's pilot schemes. (S2O-777)

The partnership agreement commits us to the reform of voting arrangements in order to increase participation, including the further investigation of postal and electronic voting. Local authorities can already put forward proposals for pilots. We are working closely with the Electoral Commission, given its experience of pilots elsewhere, to encourage and assist local authorities to do that.

The minister will be aware that if next year's European Parliament election is to be conducted by post in Scotland while the rest of the United Kingdom uses the traditional method, people will need to post their ballot papers well in advance of voting taking place in the rest of the UK. What measures can the Executive take to ensure that the Scottish electorate does not miss out on any UK-wide efforts that are conducted in the last few weeks of the campaign to educate and inform the voters in order to increase turnout?

Mr Rumbles will be aware that the Electoral Commission's decision on the matter is expected on 8 December. If the decision is that Scotland will be a pilot area, the points that he raises will be brought to the attention of the Electoral Commission and, because the matters are reserved, the UK Government.

The responsibility for a media campaign in the context that Mr Rumbles describes belongs to the Electoral Commission. I will ensure that the points that he makes are brought to its attention.

Will the minister guarantee that any such new methods of voting will be fully proofed against any potential form of fraud before they are introduced as a pilot scheme?

Mr Johnstone makes a fair point about fraud. That is part of the Electoral Commission's on-going work. It held a seminar on the matter the other week at which those points were raised. I am sure that those matters will be taken forward actively.

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Multiple Sclerosis

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in ensuring that the same standard of care is available throughout Scotland for people with multiple sclerosis. (S2O-760)

We are funding the development of a managed care network in Forth valley for people with multiple sclerosis. That work includes developing standards for services in primary care and in hospital that are endorsed by NHS Quality Improvement Scotland. We wish to see those MS networks developed throughout Scotland. The Executive is also pleased to support the risk-sharing scheme, which makes disease-modifying drugs available to patients who are assessed as suitable for treatment. I am glad to report significant progress with that initiative.

In October 2000, the Scottish needs assessment programme report referred to the facilities for people with MS in Scotland. The report stated:

"current care is substantially sub-optimal, inadequately resourced and unacceptably fragmented. … There is an urgent need to develop properly resourced services in MS care."

A recent survey indicated that three quarters of people with MS believed that their standard of care depended on where in Scotland they lived. The minister knows that the National Institute for Clinical Excellence will produce guidelines for England and Wales that will set a national standard for care. Will he give a commitment today that a national standard of care will be developed for people with MS in Scotland?

There has been some misunderstanding of the NICE guidelines. They are guidelines and are not mandatory in England. They can be used by the managed clinical networks that we want to see develop in Scotland, and I hope that they will.

In reality, we need a vehicle for delivering standards. We believe that managed clinical networks—or, even better, managed care networks, as in Forth valley—are the way in which to do that and I will be very active in promoting them. They must have a quality assurance framework that is endorsed by NHS Quality Improvement Scotland. That is the way in which to proceed towards national standards.

Tricia Marwick referred to a report that was published in 2000. She should also have mentioned the progress that has been made since then, which the Multiple Sclerosis Society has acknowledged. For example, nine extra specialist MS nurses have been appointed in Scotland since the 2000 report was published, including the clinical lead in Forth valley. I am very pleased that that post is held by a nurse specialist.

In a letter that Malcolm Chisholm wrote to the Multiple Sclerosis Society under the auspices of our previous First Minister, he said:

"MS specialist nurses have enormous potential to improve patients' quality of life."

He also said:

"They are probably the quickest way to bring a demonstrable improvement for individual patients."

Given that only nine of the 15 health boards have an MS nurse in place—and many of them must cater for more than 1,000 patients each—what positive action will the Scottish Executive take to improve access to that nursing facility throughout Scotland?

I accept fully that there is much more to do. Equally, we must acknowledge the progress that has been made. I undertake to raise the issue with those boards that do not yet have a specialist MS nurse. However, we must acknowledge the progress that has been made—and not just in the appointment of nurse specialists. Since 1997, the number of neurologists has increased by 40 per cent. The MS Society has acknowledged that as an important reason why services have improved, although there is a long way to go.

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Dungavel

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it has made in its discussions with national health service boards and local authorities over provision of health and education services for families held in the Dungavel House immigration removal centre. (S2O-772)

The operation of Dungavel House immigration removal centre is a matter for the Home Office. Useful discussions have taken place between the Home Office and the Executive, South Lanarkshire Council and Lanarkshire NHS Board on a range of issues affecting Dungavel.

Is the minister concerned, as I am, that a six-year-old child has told me that he was sent back to his room from his lessons because he sang a song over and over again, and that imprisonment was used as punishment? Is she worried, as I am, about the fact that a woman who was injected with a sedative miscarried as a result and was denied medical attention—here in Scotland?

Rosie Kane seems to be suggesting that some serious incidents have taken place. I suggest that she takes them to the proper authorities. There is a great deal of misinformation about Dungavel that the SSP has reported and that I have found subsequently not to be quite as accurate as was suggested. Before I comment on the claims that Rosie Kane has made, I want to know how accurate they are.

As we have made clear in the Parliament on a number of occasions, there are clear lines of responsibility. It is not in the interests of anyone continually to rehearse what those lines of responsibility are. There are democratic forums for dealing with this matter and I suggest that Rosie Kane takes the issues that she has raised to them.

The work of the Executive and the Parliament should be properly focused on the responsibilities for asylum seekers and refugees that we have. Much progress has been made. We have spent £2 million on assisting asylum seekers and refugees to settle in Scotland. We should welcome the efforts of all those in local communities who have worked to ensure that progress is made. We have spent a further £3 million on language services and on implementing the action plan that is associated with the Scottish refugee integration forum. All the refugee organisations in Scotland say that the Executive has done very good work. Let us focus on what we can do and ensure that we improve the circumstances of refugees and asylum seekers in Scotland. That is our work and that is what we are doing.

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Affordable Homes

To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to respond to the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations' campaign for 10,000 affordable homes across Scotland. (S2O-798)

Our stated aim is that the right type of housing in the right place should be available to meet the housing needs of individuals and families across Scotland, whatever their circumstances. The Scottish Executive is committed to taking a leading role in delivering that aim and we have in place a significant investment programme to provide affordable social housing. However, we also require a major on-going input from local authorities, the voluntary housing sector, lenders, private house builders and the planning system. We are committed to working with all those partners to achieve our aim.

I am sure that the minister will be aware that Edinburgh is approaching a crisis with the lack of affordable housing. The City of Edinburgh Council has done pioneering work to link planning and housing policies, but we need 1,000 new affordable homes every year, and a modest increase in public subsidy could lever in significant private investment. Will she examine the case for sustained additional support to deal with housing issues in the city so that people in Edinburgh can have decent housing choices?

I will always examine the case for improving Scotland's housing stock. It is not just an issue of supply; it is an issue of quality, which we have made great efforts to achieve. During my time as the minister responsible for housing, I had many discussions with the City of Edinburgh Council about its housing issues. Edinburgh has received a 27 per cent increase in the development programme in the past year. That is a significant commitment on the part of the Executive and we look forward to continuing our partnership with the City of Edinburgh Council so that, together, we can resolve the issues that the city faces.

I welcome the progress that the minister has made, but will she clarify the statistical basis on which the Executive has calculated that 6,000 houses per year is an adequate number to meet the outstanding need throughout Scotland?

Yes, I will—I will be happy to provide more details. We commissioned the research from Heriot-Watt University and I have just had a detailed presentation from the researcher involved, who is a recognised authority in the housing field.

I will meet the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations, which is an important organisation in housing in Scotland. Let us not get lost in a debate about whether the figure should be 6,000 or 7,000; let us make sure that we use all the levers at our disposal to present Scotland's people with the range of housing options that meets their needs and aspirations. That involves working with the voluntary sector, local authorities and local communities; it is also about the planning system. We have to get all those factors to work together. I acknowledge that that is a key issue to be faced in future.

The shortage of affordable housing in rural communities has priced many young people out of their local communities, even if they want to continue to work and live where they have been brought up. For example, in Aberdeenshire—which is a small area—alone, there are 4,500 people on the housing list.

The rural home ownership grant scheme has attracted only five successful applications in Aberdeenshire, and not that many more elsewhere in Scotland. Does the minister believe that that scheme has been a success in helping people to buy their home? If not, is she going to replace it or do something else to promote it?

There is a lot in that question. Rural communities face significant challenges, and the member will know that we have just announced £10 million to meet those challenges because we recognise that there are pockets of acute shortage. I suggest that waiting lists are not always the best indicator of housing need; they are a blunt instrument. However, I acknowledge that there are issues that we have to face to meet people's aspirations for home ownership. We also have to ensure that good-quality stock is there when it is needed and meet the challenges of infrastructure investment.

To address Richard Lochhead's specific point, we are considering the range of levers that facilitate home ownership, and the scheme that he mentioned is one that we will be examining.

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Hospitals (Vending Machines)

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to remove all vending machines that sell unhealthy food from hospitals in Scotland. (S2O-799)

It is for individual NHS boards to lead and manage provision of food in hospitals. We expect NHS boards to set an example, as employers and service providers, given their key role in improving health in Scotland.

Is the minister aware that a recent report estimated the cost to the Scottish national health service of treating obesity-related disease at £171 million? At the same time, many disabled children cannot access treatment such as speech therapy and physiotherapy because of lack of funding. How does the Executive aim to reduce that largely avoidable spending on obesity and increase the funding available to treat unavoidable and distressing childhood conditions?

Our healthy eating strategy and the Scottish diet action plan are designed to make considerable inroads into the problem of obesity in Scotland. Obesity actually costs much more than that figure; it also leads to a series of other serious conditions, including diabetes. We are well aware of the massive challenge that we face and we are intent on achieving the targets that we have set and on taking the health improvement agenda in Scotland much further.

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Social Housing

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in respect of its house building programme, with particular reference to social housing. (S2O-811)

We have set a target of funding a further 18,000 warm, dry and affordable homes for families across Scotland by 2006, and are currently on track to deliver on that commitment.

The minister will be aware that in the west end of Glasgow and in parts of my constituency such as Partick, fewer than 100 houses are under the Glasgow Housing Association. Given that there is a serious lack of affordable housing and of larger accommodation for families, does she agree that we should strive to ensure that a range of housing tenure is available and that the guidance in the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 should reflect the need for such a housing mix? Furthermore, given the proposal to build 3,500 houses in the Glasgow harbour development, should we not consider the possibility of making some of the housing in that development social housing? After all, it presents a key opportunity for our house building programme.

I am sure that Pauline McNeill knows that, as a result of the community ownership programme that has been introduced in Glasgow, responsibility for the housing investment programme has passed from Communities Scotland to Glasgow City Council. I agree strongly that a range of housing tenure should be available to all communities in Glasgow. Any major regeneration developments of the sort that Pauline has highlighted should benefit all parts of and all income groups in the city, and certainly what she has suggested is integral to such projects.

I was interested to hear the minister's targets for house building in the social housing sector and the number of houses that will be built over the next period. However, independent surveys for the Highland area show a shortfall of 1,200 houses this year in the social rented sector. Basically, the allocation for the whole of Scotland will hardly meet even Highland's needs over the next 10 years. When will she increase the number of such houses? Moreover, is she going to start treating social housing as part of the infrastructure that is now a higher priority for this Government than it has been in the past?

Although the Executive could be accused of some things—I would not say that we are quite perfect, although members should not ask me what those imperfections are today—giving no priority to housing is not one of them. Every housing association will point out that the one achievement of this Parliament is the focus that it has given to housing priorities, and I really think that Rob Gibson's accusation is unfair.

I acknowledge Rob Gibson's interest in the Highlands. I have had discussions with councillors in the Highlands and with the leader of Highland Council on how we can take forward some of the housing supply and other issues that they face in that area. Indeed, the issue crosses a range of subjects. When one consider the range of options that we have provided to local authorities and different communities, it is clear that there are agendas that they can take forward. For example, I advocate that we consider community ownership and the current opportunities for investment that exist. I also think that we need to examine the planning system. The Executive is bringing all of that together, because it has made housing supply a key priority.

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Fuel Poverty

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made since the Scottish fuel poverty statement of August 2002 in meeting its target of ending fuel poverty. (S2O-769)

We have made good progress. Our central heating and warm deal programmes are on track and making a difference. We are also working with the private and voluntary sectors to ensure that our measures continue to be as effective as possible.

I welcome the minister's response and I am sure that the whole chamber will approve of the finding in the "Scottish House Conditions Survey 2002", which was published last Friday, that the number of households living in fuel poverty has halved since 1997. That is real progress for the people throughout Scotland whom we represent.

What is the Executive's view on extending free central heating and insulation to the disabled and the chronically ill, which I believe would be another progressive and necessary development?

As Bill Butler knows, the Executive used the previous house conditions survey in 1996 to inform its policy of installing central heating for older people. We now want to take the opportunity of the publication of the "Scottish House Conditions Survey 2002"—which, as Bill Butler said, happened last Friday—to consider further priorities to ensure that we target those who are most at risk from fuel poverty.

Does the minister agree that enhancing home energy efficiency is the best way to tackle fuel poverty in Scotland?

That is one of the tracks on which we are engaged. The member might be interested in the energy audit project with Friends of the Earth Scotland, which is looking at the value that people place on fuel energy measures in homes and residences. We hope that that project will ensure that we make progress on tackling fuel poverty in the home.

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Scottish Water

To ask the Scottish Executive what powers it has to influence the actions and decisions of Scottish Water where such actions and decisions are supported by the water industry commissioner for Scotland. (S2O-787)

The powers of the Scottish Executive with respect to the water industry, and those of Scottish Water and the water industry commissioner are set out in the Water Industry (Scotland) Act 2002.

Specifically, section 56 (3) of the Water Industry (Scotland) Act 2002 states that

"Scottish ministers may give Scottish Water … general or specific"

directions

"as to the exercise of its functions",

and section 1(3) of the act states that

"Scottish ministers may … give the Commissioner … general or specific"

directions on the exercise of his functions.

However, those powers of direction must be exercised in a manner that is consistent with the provisions of the act and ministers cannot use the powers to negate or amend specific provisions in the act, because to do so would contradict Parliament's intentions.

I notice that the minister's answer is probably consistent with the statements that he sent to the Greenock Telegraph and the Largs and Millport Weekly News. However, his answer appears to be inconsistent with the views that were expressed by his deputy Allan Wilson and supported by the Deputy First Minister Jim Wallace in a meeting with the Forum of Private Business. Will the minister finally reiterate to whom Scottish Water is accountable?

I am delighted, as the editor of the Greenock Telegraph will be, about the wide readership that the paper has now gained. Mr Johnstone will be aware that it is in its second century of service to the community.

As Alex Johnstone well knows, Scottish Water was created by this Executive to try to achieve a different balance in how we deliver water services, which have traditionally been hopelessly underfunded and have not served Scotland well. Ministers have powers to set general strategic direction and we have the powers to set the amount that will be spent by Scottish Water after a strategic review of its capital requirements. That will then feed into the review of its charging regime, for which we have powers to set the framework. That review will be conducted by the water industry commissioner.

We established the role of the water industry commissioner to look after customers' specific interests. The Scottish Executive sets the strategic framework and the water industry—Scottish Water—conducts the business. That is preferable by far to politicians trying to run an industry and meddle in its day-to-day affairs.

Is the minister aware that domestic water charges in the Forth valley area have increased by 220 per cent since 1994, compared with an increase of only 26 per cent in the retail prices index over the same period? When will the Scottish Executive tell Scottish Water that such exorbitant charges are completely unacceptable and that they are causing considerable hardship to many people?

There are two parts to that question, as Mr Canavan knows. On containing and reducing charges, the essential feature that was highlighted by the water industry commissioner's report in 1998 was that the three previous authorities were 30 per cent less efficient than any comparable organisation in this country. The new Scottish Water has been set the task of achieving efficiency targets of up to 30 per cent. It is a challenging task, but it is the only way of ensuring that Scottish consumers will in the future get the highest quality water at the most competitive price.

As the minister knows very well, there is considerable concern over the lack of water and sewerage infrastructure in rural parts of the Stirling constituency, particularly in Crianlarich and Tyndrum. Will the minister provide as soon as possible a progress report of the meetings that are taking place between Scottish Water and ministers to examine infrastructure needs in areas where there is a shortage of affordable housing?

I am happy to give Sylvia Jackson an undertaking to provide that information. As the member is aware—many members in the chamber are concerned about this—the initial assessment in 1997 or 1998 that was produced by the three previous water authorities, which resulted in the £1.8 billion capital investment programme that was approved by this Executive, allowed for only £240 million of infrastructure development that was not associated with meeting minimum quality standards. We have had meetings with the commissioner, the water industry and local authorities about a reassessment. I will be happy to provide the information as soon as it becomes available.

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Speed Restrictions (Kinbrace Primary School)

To ask the Scottish Executive when suitable speed restrictions will be introduced at Kinbrace Primary School on the A897. (S2O-808)

The Scottish Executive has announced funding of £27 million over the next three years for 20mph school safety zones. Highland Council's share is more than £1.2 million. Decisions on measures to restrict the speed of traffic on the A897 at Kinbrace Primary School are a matter for Highland Council.

The minister will, I hope, be aware that Kinbrace is a small and remote village in Sutherland. Speed restrictions are a huge issue. In fact, this week the pupils and teachers of Kinbrace Primary School demonstrated. Highland Council led me to believe that the hold-up was with the Executive, but I do not doubt what he said. First, will he check that there is no possible glitch within his department? Secondly, if there is not, will he lean heavily on Highland Council to sort out the issue before somebody is killed?

I will look carefully into the possibility of there being a glitch in my department. However, I am pleased to say that schemes are progressing throughout Scotland. It is worth mentioning that the Executive has informed local authorities that it would be prepared to give blanket authorisation across a local authority area to any authorities that wish to proceed with the new-style mandatory part-time speed limits. Glasgow City Council, for example, has already moved forward on that and has applied this week to the Executive; it intends to introduce part-time mandatory 20mph speed limits outside all 258 schools in Glasgow. Everyone in the chamber should welcome that good news.

The circumstances in relation to Highland Council may be more complex, because a number of authorities have a greater number of schools on roads on which the speed limit is greater than 30mph. There are problems in trying to slow down traffic from 70mph on a dual carriageway, or from 60mph on a standard trunk road or rural road. We have set up a working group, involving the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland and the Society of Chief Officers of Transportation in Scotland, to look into those issues. I want to ensure that we tackle all schools in Scotland in terms of introducing 20mph speed limits, and I am determined that we continue to make quick progress in relation to that working group.

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Wind Energy

To ask the Scottish Executive how it is ensuring that local communities and manufacturing industry gain economic benefits from wind energy. (S2O-794)

As far as communities are concerned, we are encouraging Highlands and Islands Enterprise to work up proposals for a possible community equity scheme, which would allow communities to hold a financial stake in renewables developments in their areas. As far as industry is concerned, recently I chaired the first meeting of the forum for renewable energy development in Scotland, which will seek to maximise the Scottish stake in manufacturing and in new renewables technology.

I thank the minister for that answer; it will be very welcome in the Highland area, to which my constituents do not belong.

I am particularly concerned by the difficulties and lack of support for communities in negotiating local benefits from developments in their area. Will the minister consider facilitating the setting-up of a new organisation, or the use of an appropriate existing organisation, to be a gateway for communities to access advice and guidance? Will he back that with a fund that could be drawn from to procure professional services in order to level the playing field between communities and development companies?

The proposals that HIE is examining could well be applied throughout Scotland. The best way for communities to obtain benefit from renewables developments on their doorsteps is through equity schemes. If we can do that in a way that gives communities a direct stake in developments, it would clearly be better than any position that involved communities negotiating across the table with the developer as if they were on different sides.

We recognise the importance of communities' obtaining benefit from developments—that is why we are at ease with the practice that has developed in the industry of putting a sum for community benefit towards funds that local communities are able to establish. A number of communities in the Highlands and the lowlands have obtained very reasonable additions to their community funding as a result of such arrangements.

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Compulsory Entitlement Cards

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Home Office regarding the proposed introduction of compulsory entitlement cards. (S2O-809)

As the First Minister advised in his response to the member's question of 25 September, the Home Secretary consulted ministers in Scotland about the UK Government's proposals. The First Minister also confirmed at last week's question time that the Home Secretary and the United Kingdom Cabinet have accepted in full the Executive's position that identity cards will not be required for access to services that come under devolved responsibilities in Scotland.

Independently, as set out in the partnership agreement, the Executive is committed to supporting local authorities in a number of pilot projects to assess the desirability of developing a free, voluntary entitlement card to facilitate citizens' access to appropriate public services.

I thank the minister for his response, and the First Minister for his previous answer. Will the minister tell us whether the Home Secretary has publicly and on the record accepted the Scottish Executive's position to date? On devolved public services, will service users be asked to show identity cards—although they have the right to refuse to do so—or will they not be asked to produce the card in the first place?

The Home Secretary's position has been made clear on the record, but I will follow that up in writing to the member. In debates in the House of Commons—indeed, in the original consultation document—the position was clear. With regard to services related to our card in Scotland—[Interruption.] If the member cares to listen to the answer, she will hear that there will be a free card, which will be issued by local authorities. Such a card is making a huge difference in Scotland; for example, school children in Glasgow have a cashless system for school meals, thus avoiding bullying and stigma. That fits very well with the Executive's healthy eating priority. Previously one in two children were having chips with their lunch, but incentives based on the cards—which allow people to make healthy choices—mean that the figure is now one in 12. We want to encourage that card. People will flock to our card scheme in Scotland, which is on the cutting edge worldwide in relation to access to public services.

The First Minister said last week that the Executive opposed compulsory identity cards for access to devolved services, but will the minister tell us whether that means that the Executive will be happy for ID cards to be compulsory in Scotland for access to services such as social security? If that is not the case, will he give an undertaking today that the Executive will oppose vigorously any element whatever of compulsion associated with ID cards in Scotland?

As usual, Nicola Sturgeon is in the wrong place, but perhaps the SNP's members down south in the UK Parliament are not fit enough to ask questions of the Home Secretary. As members know, those are reserved matters. Nicola Sturgeon would be the first member of this Parliament to complain if a UK minister sought to interfere in a Scottish devolved matter. She should either go to Westminster or align her questions to the responsibilities of the Scottish Parliament.

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Textile Industry

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to secure the future of the remnants of the textile industry, given the recent announcement of the closure of Chilton Scotland Ltd, Girvan. (S2O-779)

The closure of Chilton Scotland Ltd and the consequent loss of jobs are very much to be regretted. Despite a recent decline, textiles remains an important manufacturing sector in terms of employment, output and exports. We established the Scottish textiles forum to engage with the sector and, through the forum, will continue to work with the sector to develop measures of support.

I welcome the comments about the forum, but it was established some time ago. Over recent years there has been a decline in textiles industry employment, from about 21,900 to just over 11,000—a 50 per cent reduction. In addition, Scottish Enterprise provides gloomy forecasts of further reductions in the future. On that basis, what use is the forum?

I regret the most recent job losses in Girvan, which Cathy Jamieson has also discussed with me. We are identifying other ways to bring economic activity to the area. I accepted in my previous answer that the textile industry has declined, but it is important to point out that it still accounts for 6.3 per cent of manufacturing jobs. In 2002, its exports were valued at £483 million, which made it the seventh-largest export sector in Scotland.

The Scottish textiles forum is industry led and has a dedicated team in Scottish Enterprise that is responsible for delivering the forum's action plan on the industry's image, training and design. A national conference is being organised for next year, which I have happily accepted an invitation to address, so that I can engage directly with the industry and hear its views. The forum has taken a number of steps to support the industry and will continue to do that.

The minister will be aware of the industry's importance to my constituency and to the rest of the Borders. He has visited people who are involved in the textiles industry many times. Does he agree that many parts of the industry—particularly new textiles and industrial textiles—have a future? Does he agree that they should be the focus of support for Heriot-Watt University in Galashiels, for example, which is doing excellent work in the sector?

It is fair to say that Heriot-Watt in Galashiels has produced the kind of centre of excellence that will give the textiles industry a cutting edge in increasingly competitive markets.

The forum has identified design courses and arranges seasonal-trend presentations. That helps especially small and medium-sized enterprises to access market data.

As for Jeremy Purvis's constituency, I was pleased to be present at the launch of the 70th anniversary presentation for Isetan, the leading Japanese department store, where tartans from the Lochcarron of Scotland mill in Galashiels were the focal point. That showed that a Scottish company is prominent in a competitive international market. Such activities and such enterprise as Lochcarron and several other companies have displayed show that Scottish textiles have a future.

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Street Prostitution

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to address the issue of street prostitution. (S2O-767)

The expert group on prostitution, under Sandra Hood's chairmanship, is examining the issues that relate to prostitution in Scotland, starting with street prostitution. We will give its report careful consideration.

The minister will be aware that the City of Edinburgh Council last week approved a report on prostitution in the Leith area, an issue that affects a number of my constituents. That report was produced jointly by the council, Lothian NHS Board and Lothian and Borders police. Will he ensure that the report is brought to the expert group's attention and that it considers fully the issues that the report raises—in particular, the report's views and respondents' comments on tolerance zones?

I am sure that the expert group will give that report due consideration and will examine tolerance zones closely. We have asked for work to be undertaken early on street prostitution issues and that is one of the first subjects on which the group will report. I am sure that the group will consider the evidence and experience of Edinburgh.

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Zero-waste Strategy

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the benefits that the adoption of a zero-waste strategy would have on the environment, agriculture and employment. (S2O-802)

Paragraph 7.3.3 of the national waste plan discusses the concept of zero waste and says:

"The concept provides a platform for challenging our current systems and radically reducing waste beyond even the … current levels of achievement."

I welcome that response and paragraph 7.3.3 of the national waste strategy, but the strategy contains nothing that says whether the Executive agrees that the principle of zero waste—of minimising waste rather than dealing with it once it has been generated—should produce the change in products and packaging that will eliminate waste production. When will we see ministerial action to develop a zero-waste strategy instead of merely recognition that it exists, which is all that the national waste strategy contains?

As Mark Ballard will be aware, the concept is certainly gaining acceptance, but there is still much discussion, even among proponents of zero waste, as to precisely how best to achieve it. I have two further comments. Mark Ballard will be aware that the European Commission's recent green paper on the sixth environmental action plan develops and addresses the issue. More important, the recommendations of the recent report by our own Environment and Rural Development Committee on the national waste plan specifically suggest that

"Scotland … begin to move towards the radical alternative of a ‘zero waste' strategy."

I will obviously respond to the constructive statements in that report, which is generally very helpful. It recognises the base on which the national waste strategy is set and makes positive recommendations for taking it forward. My response to the green paper will obviously take into account both Mr Ballard's comments and the recommendations that were made in the Environment and Rural Development Committee's excellent report.

Will the minister say how the decision of the reporter in approving the appeal of Alba Developments Ltd, which will turn Westfield into one of the biggest landfill developments in Europe for the next few years, squares with the First Minister's policy of social justice, in relation to which he has said that he believes that the poorest and most disadvantaged communities should not be dumped on? Will the minister agree to meet representatives from the communities that are involved to hear their concerns?

I understand Helen Eadie's disappointment from a local perspective at the decision of the reporter. The First Minister and the Executive remain committed to pursuing environmental justice, but in meeting Helen Eadie's constituents I would want to examine not only issues of location—which were presumably considered from the reporter's perspective on the appropriateness of land use—but also issues of licensing and how the site is to be managed. It is just as important that we examine the impact that the national waste strategy will have on reducing the amount of arisings that will have to be taken to that site. I am happy to arrange a meeting on that issue.