SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE
General Questions
Cold Weather Costs (Funding)
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is working with local authorities to asses the additional costs that they are facing as a result of the recent cold weather and whether additional funding will be provided to cover these costs. (S3O-9221)
It is for local authorities in the first instance to determine how the additional costs that they face as a result of the recent cold weather can be accommodated within their overall resources. Meanwhile, as part of our regular dialogue with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, we will continue to work with our local government partners to consider how those costs can best be accommodated.
I thank the cabinet secretary for a constructive answer. The damage that the frost and snow are causing to roads and pavements is there to be seen in what has happened to the tarmac. It strikes me that, if the repairs could be dealt with now, rather than in future years, they would be cheaper in the long term. Will the cabinet secretary at least consider, in the context of the discussions that he mentions, advancing capital expenditure from future years to the next financial year?
Mr Stone will understand that I have been sympathetic to the necessity to accelerate capital expenditure to deal with the economic circumstances in which we find ourselves—indeed, I have been arguing for it—but it is difficult for me to undertake that activity without Treasury consent. However, I will, of course, consider the issue.
Will the cabinet secretary comment on other forms of co-operation between councils that helped us to cope with that difficult time and, noting that winter is not yet finished, will he say whether there is enough salt around the country to deal with future cold weather?
Mr Gibson is right to remind us that winter is not yet over. Over the past 10 days or so, there has been a significant increase in the salt stocks that are held in Scotland as a consequence of decisions that were taken as part of the Scottish Government's resilience operation, which was taken forward in close collaboration with our colleagues in local government. We are working to ensure that that resource is in place for the remainder of the winter. That continues to attract the close focus of ministers and local authorities around the country.
Fife Energy Park
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Fife Council regarding Fife energy park. (S3O-9238)
In conjunction with Fife Council, Scottish Enterprise is leading ambitious plans to develop Fife energy park further. As part of the renewables action plan, officials within the Scottish Government's renewable energy team are leading a series of discussions with local authorities to discuss economic development potential and other local issues relating to the renewable energy agenda. Fife Council will join four other local authorities in an initial meeting that takes place in Brechin today. It is clear that the facilities at the Fife energy park and expertise that resides in companies such as BiFab—the park's largest tenant—will play a pivotal role in developing Scotland as a recognised leader in renewable energy.
The minister is aware of the importance of the energy park to the whole Levenmouth area and has already referred to BiFab's outstanding performance, which has contributed hugely. However, given the Crown Estate's recent announcement on licences, particularly in the Firth of Forth, I seek his assurance that he will work closely with Scottish Enterprise to ensure that more companies come to the Fife energy park so that we can reap the benefit of a windfall of jobs.
Yes, I give that assurance. Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise are developing a national renewables infrastructure plan to ensure that Scotland can secure substantial economic benefit from that. That is informed by our trip to Bremerhaven, on which it was made clear that even the Germans will be supply constrained in taking full advantage of renewables. Fife is well placed because of its locational advantage, land and readiness to take advantage of those technologies. We will continue to work to ensure that that is augmented.
As the minister is aware, Fife energy park is strategically important not only to Fife but nationally. BiFab, whose head office is in my constituency, has a key role to play in the energy park's success and in the Government's renewables action plan. Will he ensure that companies such as BiFab have the appropriate support to be able to grow and develop and to support the energy park and the downstream industries that will follow?
We will continue to work in the closest collaboration with those companies, because it is very much in Scotland's interest to do so. Under this Administration, Scotland is looking forward very much to an energy-led economic recovery, so we treat those companies as the assets that they are and work with them as closely as possible.
Does the minister agree that a vital component in the future success of the Fife energy park would be the reopening of the rail link between Levenmouth and Thornton junction? Given all that has been said about the new energy park, is it not remarkable that the Scottish National Party Government has still had nothing to say about plans to reopen the railway link? Why is that?
I would defer to my transport colleagues on that. However, I can tell the member about the investment that has gone into the energy park. The £11.8 million from the previous Administration back in 2006, the further £11.2 million that the Scottish Enterprise board approved in June 2009 and the Fife Council investment will ensure that Fife energy park is all that it can be.
Question 3 was not lodged.
Workers' Co-operatives (Support)
To ask the Scottish Government what support it gives to workers' co-operatives. (S3O-9230)
The business gateway provides a first-stop access that is available to all firms for business support, including start-up training, business advice and details of financial support that may be available to support new and growing businesses. In addition, Co-operative Development Scotland, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Scottish Enterprise, has a specific role to promote and support all forms of new and existing co-operatives with growth potential, including worker co-operatives. CDS is developing a worker co-operative development programme, with an anticipated start date of March this year. The Scottish Government recognises and values the importance of co-operative enterprises in contributing to the growth of the Scottish economy.
Is the minister aware that, with the help of CDS, the internationally successful Clansman Dynamics Ltd in East Kilbride has just been subject to an employee buyout and may in fact be the world's first co-operative operating in the field of designing and manufacturing industrial robots? Does he agree that the co-operative route is one way of ensuring the future vitality of companies and that it should be investigated by others? Will he join me in congratulating Dick Philbrick, the former owner of the company, who encouraged and supported the employee buyout and remains an employee of the firm as managing director?
Yes, I am very pleased to take this opportunity to congratulate Dick Philbrick on realising his ambition to ensure the continued success of Clansman Dynamics by transferring ownership to its 30 employees. I wish everyone in the company the very best going forward. The Scottish Government recognises that the co-operative business model can be an effective approach for a variety of sectors, such as renewable energy. CDS is available to assist directly in that regard. The current climate is such that I understand that the West Highland Free Press has had an employee buyout. There is therefore more progress to talk about.
I am pleased to hear the minister's on-going commitment to CDS, which was set up by the previous Administration. What work has been done by the Executive to ensure that the co-operative business model is included in the determined to succeed programme?
We liaise very closely with the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning on that and we will continue to do so. The key point is that CDS's worker co-operative development programme, which will consist of a four-day workshop, will start in March. The climate is right for that. I have a great quote from Robert Oakshott, the founder of the Employee Ownership Association, who looks to a future in which employee ownership entails
National Health Service (Stolen Equipment)
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to address the issue of stolen and lost equipment from NHS sites. (S3O-9194)
That is a matter for NHS boards to manage. As part of their annual accounting process, they are required to certify in their accounts that procedures are in place to manage and safeguard their equipment.
Under freedom of information legislation, I asked every health board to detail the items that have been lost and stolen. What particularly concerns me is that 10 laptops and one desktop personal computer have been lost or stolen in the past year. Can the cabinet secretary give me a concrete assurance that those pieces of information technology equipment did not contain patient information? In light of previous promises made in the chamber and the action that the Scottish Information Commissioner has taken against five Scottish NHS boards in respect of data loss, can she say whether the computers were fully encrypted, which would at least mean that patient data were not lost?
Clearly, I cannot give Richard Simpson details about specific computers when I do not know where they are. If he writes to me with the details of the instances that he is talking about, I will be more than happy to see what assurances we could provide. I agree that his question is very important. I have said previously and do not mind saying again that, given the sensitivity of the data involved, data security in the NHS is extremely important. NHS boards are under an obligation to ensure that they have the right security measures in place, particularly when they deal with personal information. That involves appropriate passwords and encryption, where that is necessary. The Information Commissioner will always take an overview of the appropriateness of the procedures in place. If Richard Simpson wants to enter into further dialogue about the specifics that he is talking about, I am more than happy to do that.
Home Heating
To ask the Scottish Executive what additional measures it is considering to better support people in keeping their homes warm and efficiently heated. (S3O-9192)
The Scottish Government is already helping people throughout Scotland to reduce their heating bills and keep their homes warm through the energy assistance package and the home insulation scheme. Anyone can call 0800512012 to obtain guidance on energy savings or to check their entitlement to benefits and cheap energy tariffs. Many people are eligible for cheaper rates, and, if they call today, they could be on a new tariff within a couple of weeks. Between April and the end of December last year, 5,500 fuel-poor households had heating and insulation measures installed under stage 4 of the energy assistance package, which should save them on average £884 a year on their fuel bills.
Amid the grand rhetoric, I am surprised that the minister did not mention the collapse in the number of heating systems that have been installed since his Government came to power. However, on a more positive note, can I encourage the minister in his future thinking to consider new provisions in the home insulation scheme for homes that are difficult to insulate? In particular, a range of people live in fuel poverty in houses that were built in the 1960s and which used the first type of timber-frame construction, which are difficult to insulate now because they do not have a normal cavity wall. The only thing that can be done is to build a new cavity wall either inside or beyond the current boundary of the house, which is very expensive and is beyond most people. Will the minister have a look at that issue in particular in his new thinking about future planning?
Peter Peacock raises two points. The first is about the number of heating systems installed under this Government. We had a record number of installations of central heating systems last year—unprecedented since the Parliament was established. His second point is a very reasonable one. I am aware of new technology that can be used for external insulation measures. I am already looking at that and I will be delighted to share that information with the member in relation to the valid point that he raises about particular types of building.
Has the Scottish Government made any representations to the United Kingdom Government on the inclusion of wind-chill factors in the calculation of entitlement to cold weather payments? Is the minister aware that, after a month of snow and ice in the Western Isles, it was officially "not cold enough" for such payments to be triggered?
I have raised that matter on a number of occasions with the UK Government, so far without success. It is a rather absurd system that states that, after the kind of weather that we have experienced since before Christmas, places such as the Western Isles do not qualify for the cold weather payments. I hope that the Labour Government in London will look at that very cruel policy.
Scottish Gross Domestic Product
To ask the Scottish Government when it expects Scottish GDP growth to be higher than that of the United Kingdom. (S3O-9216)
The purpose of the Scottish Government is to deliver increased sustainable economic growth. Our actions, including our budget bill for 2010-11, demonstrate our commitment to matching the UK growth rate by 2011.
I asked the cabinet secretary when the Government expects that to be achieved.
Obviously, the Government is putting its focus and energy into achieving that target. That has been the Government's position since we came into office in 2007, and I assure Mr Purvis that it will remain so for the duration of this parliamentary session.
Anticoagulation Services
To ask the Scottish Government which national health service boards have removed the monitoring of anticoagulation services from general practitioners and set up special anticoagulation clinics. (S3O-9240)
I understand that only NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has done so to date, although some other board areas offer hospital-based clinics for patients who have specialist problems or requirements or for reasons of easy access for patients.
As the minister will be aware, I have written to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing about the problems faced by a constituent who attends an anticoagulation clinic that is run by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. After my constituent was prescribed medication by his GP that apparently interfered with his anticoagulation treatment, he became ill. On phoning the anticoagulation clinic to seek help, he was asked no questions about any other medication that he might be taking. Will the minister investigate what systems are in place for dealing with calls to anticoagulation clinics and whether there is a case for staff routinely to inquire of callers whether they are taking any new medications that might have an adverse impact on the patient's health?
Of course patient safety is of paramount importance. We expect all boards to have in place robust procedures that are consistent with national guidelines and protocols. That includes the timely and effective exchange of relevant information between practitioners and with patients, including information on any new medication.
Economic Inequality (Health)
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the comments on the damaging effects of economic inequality on health in "An Unequal Struggle for Health: Report of the Director of Public Health into the health of the Population of Greater Glasgow and Clyde". (S3O-9251)
We recognise the role that economic inequality plays in driving health inequality and we welcome the focus of Dr de Caestecker's report, "An Unequal Struggle for Health". The Scottish Government sees it as a priority to address the interlinked problems of poverty, health inequalities and children's early years. That is why the implementation of "Equally Well: Report of the Ministerial Task Force on Health Inequalities" is being taken forward alongside that of "The Early Years Framework", which is the Government's strategy for ensuring that our children have the best possible start in life, and that of our anti-poverty strategy, "Achieving Our Potential: A Framework to tackle poverty and income inequality in Scotland".
Given that Dr Linda de Caestecker draws attention in her report to calls on the medical profession to limit the pay of its highest earners, will the Scottish Government consider setting maximum wage ratios in Scotland's national health service such that the best-paid NHS employees could earn only up to a certain multiple of the worst paid? Will the Government consider phasing that in as existing contracts expire?
John Swinney, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth, has already made clear our policy on public sector pay—that was discussed at length yesterday. In addition, the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing has made it clear that there will be a freeze in the budget for the distinction awards for the coming year.
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