Good morning. The first item of business is general questions.
Opencast Coal Sites (East Ayrshire)
To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made with the restoration of abandoned opencast coal sites in East Ayrshire. (S4O-04354)
Progressive restoration of active sites in East Ayrshire is under way, and an industry-led carbon price support restoration proposal designed to provide funding for the restoration of legacy surface mining sites is with the United Kingdom Government for consideration. The proposal has the potential to provide a funding stream for restoration projects, to preserve industry jobs and to retain restoration capacity. I wrote to Treasury ministers on 18 May, urging the UK Government to act swiftly in its consideration of the proposal and to engage promptly with Scottish Government officials.
The minister will be aware from recent announcements by Hargreaves Services that it has had no feedback from the UK Government regarding its case for carbon price support exemption. One consequence of that is the closing down of operations at a site in East Ayrshire, at a cost of 57 jobs. Could the minister engage with Her Majesty’s Government on the issue as a matter of urgency?
I am aware of the decision and have spoken to Iain Cockburn of Hargreaves. As I mentioned, I have taken up the matter, post election, with the UK Treasury minister Damian Hinds. As Mr Ingram rightly highlights, the matter is made more urgent because of the commercial pressures facing the sector because of the falling world coal price. The UK Government undertook, in the course of its most recent budget in March, to work with the Scottish Government to find a solution. I welcome that, and I welcome the cross-party working on the coal task force, including contributions from Sandra Osborne and Cathy Jamieson, which was appreciated.
I believe that there is to be a budget statement on 8 July. The proposals put forward by CoalPro—the Confederation of UK Coal Producers—based on the Cockburn proposal must have action from HM Treasury, and we are urging Treasury ministers to include that in the budget statement. I know that David Mundell, the Secretary of State for Scotland, was active before the election in giving his own personal support to the CPS exemption. I trust that he will now use his position as Secretary of State for Scotland to ensure that that solution is contained in the budget statement in July. Otherwise, we are seriously concerned for the future of the opencast sector in Scotland and the several thousand jobs that it supports.
Forth Road Bridge (Safety Checks)
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment has been made of the recent safety checks on the Forth road bridge. (S4O-04355)
The responsibility for the Forth road bridge lies with the Forth Estuary Transport Authority. On 1 June 2015, responsibility passes to the Scottish ministers. Transport Scotland has a close working relationship with FETA and has been consulted on, and is content with, the actions taken and proposed regarding the recently announced further wire breaks to the main cable of the bridge.
Given the scare stories that have surfaced in the past relating to the integrity of the cables on the Forth road bridge, can the minister assure me that the safety checks system for cables is robust and that, for those using or living beside the bridge, the structure is safe and has many years of life ahead?
I can absolutely give that reassurance. Indeed, I have done so in Parliament previously and FETA has done so through its press release. We have been transparent around the wire breaks, which have to be put into context. They are limited and localised, and the action that has been taken by way of remedy, using the dehumidification process, seems to be effective. There are sophisticated measures in place to assess corrosion, including the acoustic mechanism, and there are also more in-depth assessments and inspections under way. When the bridge transfers to the responsibility of the Scottish ministers, that level of inspection will continue.
There are no immediate safety concerns: the cables are certainly strong enough to continue to do their job. The bridge’s condition, however, vindicates the Government’s decision to build the replacement crossing while guaranteeing a future for the road bridge. I am sure that members can be satisfied with the arrangements that are in place to continue with the assessment of the bridge and on-going works.
General Practice (Numbers of Doctors in Training)
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to increase the number of doctors in training for general practice. (S4O-04356)
The Scottish Government is committed to supporting and sustaining Scottish general practice, and under this Government the number of general practitioners has increased by 7 per cent. We recognise that attracting trainee doctors to careers in general practice is becoming more challenging, and we are pursuing a wide range of initiatives to improve the situation.
The GP out of hours review will address issues such as the recruitment and retention of GPs as part of its wide remit, but we are also developing proposals to enhance the skills of GPs and exploring ways to better manage gaps in training programmes. We have expanded the number of foundation training posts with GP experience and revised the GP returners programme.
The training of doctors for general practice is incredibly important; I am sure that we all agree. What further support can be given to help those who are in training to become doctors to reach their full potential?
As outlined in my earlier answer, the Scottish Government is already contributing to a number of new approaches for trainee doctors. It is important that we have the opportunity to fully assess the success of those initiatives. However, I am always open to new ideas and initiatives that will help individuals to reach their full career potential, which is why we continue to work with the Royal College of General Practitioners, the British Medical Association and others to review curricula and find innovative solutions to recruitment and retention challenges.
The Government is also fully involved in taking forward the implementation of policy proposals from the shape of training review, offering the potential for a new approach to how we train doctors in the future.
The cabinet secretary will be aware of the BMA review that showed that we could be between 550 and 950 GPs short by the end of the next parliamentary session. A few months ago, I made a freedom of information inquiry, which found that 50 Scottish practices already have restricted patient registration to their lists. That was three months ago and there are many more now.
In Forth Valley, there are now no partners in Drymen or Bannockburn, which cover 10,000 patients, and there are only two partners in Grangemouth from a previous figure of five. There are multiple vacancies for partners. What is the Government doing now—and I do not mean a new negotiated contract—to arrest this deterioration, which is the worst for general practice since the 1960s?
I am more than aware of the situation in Forth Valley. NHS Forth Valley has taken action by developing a plan to recruit a team of salaried GPs to provide support to local practices. I support the action taken to ensure that patients are supported. The member will, of course, be aware that some recent issues, such as the changes to pensions, have significantly accelerated the early retirement of GPs.
I am very clear that we need to make general practice more attractive to young doctors and medical undergraduates who are making their decision about the area of medicine they want to go into. General practice struggles to recruit enough doctors, which is why our discussions with the RCGP, the BMA and others are so important in making general practice a more attractive proposition for the future.
In the meantime, I will make sure that the action that we take to sustain general practice is robust and delivers for patients.
Alcohol Licensing Regime (Public Houses and Clubs)
To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that the alcohol licensing regime for public houses and clubs is operating satisfactorily. (S4O-04357)
Yes, I believe that the alcohol licensing regime is operating satisfactorily. However, there are aspects of it that could work better. That is why we are taking forward improvements within the Air Weapons and Licensing (Scotland) Bill, which is currently before the Parliament. The Scottish Government is committed to working with the public and stakeholders to ensure that the alcohol licensing regime is as effective as possible.
There has been a widely publicised decision by the city of Glasgow licensing board to curtail the activities of a nightclub. That decision is properly the responsibility of the licensing board following concerns about the premises being raised by Police Scotland. However, lawyers on behalf of the nightclub maintain that almost all the complaints on which Police Scotland founded its objections arose from incidents to which Police Scotland had been alerted by the nightclub itself. If that is so, does the cabinet secretary agree that such an approach by Police Scotland calls into question the spirit of community partnership and co-operation that is essential to effective policing and the control of crime?
As the member will recognise, the issue around the particular nightclub is a matter for the city of Glasgow licensing board and Police Scotland. It would not be appropriate for the Scottish Government to get drawn into commenting on an individual case in that way.
The cabinet secretary is aware of the problems with the current legislation on personal licence holders regarding the disproportionate penalties that are incurred by failure to reapply timeously for a personal licence. How does he intend to address that problem in forthcoming legislation, and what are the timings around that remedial action?
The member has pursued the issue on behalf of his constituents over a period. As I outlined to the Local Government and Regeneration Committee just yesterday, we intend to make sure that the provisions in the Air Weapons and Licensing (Scotland) Bill will address the issue. Those who have lost their personal licences as a result of not submitting their refresher training certificate to licensing boards will then be in a position to reapply for a personal licence.
The member will recognise that, once a bill receives royal assent, several months often pass before any of its provisions come into force. However, I have made a specific amendment to the bill to allow this provision to come into force with immediate effect as soon as the bill receives royal assent. That will mean that those who have lost their personal licences will be able to reapply to their local licensing board for a personal licence immediately.
Voting (16 and 17-year-olds)
To ask the Scottish Government whether all 16 and 17-year-olds will be eligible to vote at the 2016 Scottish Parliament election. (S4O-04358)
The Scottish Elections (Reduction of Voting Age) Bill was introduced on 2 April. The bill lowers the voting age to 16 at Scottish Parliament and local government elections and any other elections using the local government franchise. All 16 and 17-year-olds who are otherwise eligible to be included on the local government register will be eligible to vote in those elections from the 2016 Scottish Parliament election onwards.
Does the cabinet secretary agree that young people engaging with the democratic process early adds to a nation’s politics? Is Paisley’s own Mhairi Black, who was recently elected to the Westminster seat of Paisley and Renfrewshire South, not proof that age is but a number and that what really matters is a person’s ability and drive to deliver a better future for our nation?
As Mr Adam asked his question, Christine Grahame heartily endorsed the idea that age is but a number. I suspect that that remark speaks for itself, and Mr Adam may wish to choose where he sits later in the parliamentary session.
The participation of 16 and 17-year-olds in the referendum has been remarked on as one of the great strengths of the democratic process and a successful initiative of the referendum. In the recent Westminster election, we saw young people exercising their votes and participating significantly in the democratic process. I think that that will be welcomed across the board. I also endorse Mr Adam’s remarks that Mhairi Black represents the achievements of young people who can participate effectively in the democratic process.
Single Application Forms (Rural Payments and Services)
To ask the Scottish Government how many single application forms for rural payments and services have been fully processed under the new information technology system. (S4O-04359)
As of 7 am this morning, a total of 9,084 single application forms had been submitted—5,232 online and 3,852 by paper. With four weeks to go to the close of the extended application window, the rate of submission of applications is ahead of the comparable point in 2014 and, if applications continue to be submitted at the current rate, we are on track to receive around the estimated 22,000 application forms by the closing date of 15 June. However, we continue to monitor the situation closely.
I thank the cabinet secretary for his response, but there remains a serious risk that farmers will miss out. With just over three weeks left, 60 per cent of businesses have still to complete the process. I accept that the complexity of the process is causing difficulties throughout Europe, but the Scottish Government’s response has been complacent to put it mildly.
Looking forward, what will the Scottish Government do to ensure that the delays, which are not the fault of farmers, will not affect the schedule of 2015 payments, which are due this December?
I just said that we are ahead of the comparable position last year with four weeks to go before the close of the window. We are taking every step to ensure that all farmers can submit their application forms.
On Tuesday this week, I had the pleasure of attending the Border Union Agricultural Society’s schools day in Kelso, where I bumped into Councillor Jim Fullarton—one of John Lamont’s Conservative colleagues—who shook my hand and thanked me for all the hard work that the Scottish Government officials have put into ensuring that farmers can complete their forms on time, given that it is one of the most complex farming policies ever. He said that he had completed and submitted his form in less than one hour.
Councillor Fullarton’s generous spirit and understanding of the hard work contrast well with John Lamont’s grumpy spirit, given that, once again, he was defeated in his attempts to leave the Parliament at the general election.
College Students (Support)
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support college students. (S4O-04360)
The further education student support budget is at a record level of over £104 million this academic year. That means that college students can now receive bursaries of up to £93 per week, which is the best level anywhere in the United Kingdom. In addition, we made inflationary increases to college bursary and childcare support in 2014-15 and will do so again in 2015-16.
In higher education, we are increasing the level of bursary support available in 2015-16 so that the poorest students are entitled to a minimum income of £7,625 through a combination of loans and bursaries. From 2016-17, we will increase the eligibility threshold for the maximum bursary so that students with a household income of less than £19,000 will be eligible for the maximum bursary.
For 16 to 19-year-olds, we—unlike the UK Government—committed to maintain the education maintenance allowance scheme, investing £29.6 million in the current financial year. In line with the First Minister’s commitment to help more young people access and stay on in education, we are currently considering how we will extend the scheme.
I draw the minister’s attention to the case of Abbie Johnstone and Hannah Lennox, two constituents of mine, who were unable to progress to degree level in their course of dancing and acting at Glasgow Kelvin College because the college discontinued it. Does he agree that such instability in the college sector results from there being 140,000 fewer college places and a 9.3 per cent reduction in staffing, and that it shows a shocking lack of leadership from the Scottish National Party Government?
I am sure that James Kelly will rightly pursue individual constituency cases, but he has to accept that the figures prove that we are investing more in colleges than Labour ever did; that, most important of all, we have delivered on our commitment to maintain 116,000 full-time educational college places; and that we are concentrating our efforts—rightly, I believe—on providing college courses that will lead to qualifications and into work, which is what our young people deserve.
Dalry Bypass
To ask the Scottish Government what the current status is of the proposed Dalry bypass. (S4O-04361)
The directorate for planning and environmental appeals held a public local inquiry on the A737 Dalry bypass in December 2014. The Scottish ministers are awaiting the reporter’s findings and recommendations before deciding how to proceed with that much-needed infrastructure improvement.
When the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Economy announced funding for the Dalry bypass, it was warmly welcomed by constituents, but construction has been delayed by the public local inquiry, which ended on 31 January.
Surely it is completely unacceptable that a reporter can take months to come to a conclusion, inevitably delaying a decision by ministers and the hoped-for progress in building that much-needed, much-anticipated road.
The reporter requires sufficient time to consider all aspects of that complex scheme, but I assure Kenneth Gibson that, as soon as we receive the recommendations, I will look at the next steps as quickly as I possibly can.
Before we move to the next item of business, members will wish to join me in welcoming to the gallery His Excellency Mr Sungnam Lim, the ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the United Kingdom. [Applause.]