SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE
We have a busy afternoon ahead of us, so let us try to keep to time.
Residential and Nursing Care (Funding)
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in discussions with the purchasers and providers of residential and nursing care regarding the funding of such services. (S1O-3600)
Officials representing the Scottish Executive, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and care home providers have met and had a useful discussion. They are to meet again. I hope that those discussions will help to resolve the current problems.
Is the minister aware that Aberdeen was selected by Scottish Care for the current action because private nursing homes in the Aberdeen City Council area have a high occupancy rate with few vacant beds, despite a 40 per cent expansion in the number of nursing home beds? Private nursing homes in the Aberdeen City Council area are paid the highest local authority rates on mainland Scotland. Refusing to take council-funded admissions will not impact significantly on their revenue. If a negotiated settlement is not found quickly, their action could continue for quite some time.
The issue is complex. Part of the complexity is that the situation that Elaine Thomson described for Aberdeen is different in several respects from the situation that may obtain elsewhere. We are doing a great deal of work on the issue in the care development group and through the series of meetings that the Executive is convening on the issue.
Further to the minister's answer, will he assure us that he will provide sufficient funding to enable councils to pay the same rate for the same service regardless of whether it is provided by the independent sector, the voluntary sector or the council sector?
Clearly, one issue is the money that the Executive provides to local authorities. We continue to give thought to that. The other issue that David Davidson and his Conservative colleagues often raise is the amount of that money that the local authorities devote to services for older people. Both of those issues will be part of the discussions in the coming period.
As the minister is aware, the Church of Scotland is a major provider of residential care, with 900 residents in 34 homes but with a running deficit of £1.5 million per annum. Has the minister been in contact with the church's board of social responsibility? If so, will the Church of Scotland's account be in the black next year, or will elderly people find themselves homeless?
We are certainly determined that nobody will find themselves homeless. We are working hard to avoid that. It would be preferable if the care home owners did not talk in those terms.
Telecommunications (Highlands and Islands)
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to encourage the development of improved telecommunications infrastructure in the Highlands and Islands area. (S1O-3591)
The Executive is developing a strategy for stimulating the provision of higher bandwidth services across Scotland. We are focusing on the impact of aggregating public sector demand. We are also directly involved in the Highlands and Islands partnership programme under which €9 million is allocated in principle under the special transitional programme for enhancement of telecoms infrastructure in remote areas.
If you will allow me, Sir David, I wish first to welcome the students from Zlín, in the Czech Republic, who are in the public gallery, and who will be visiting Shetland tomorrow as part of an educational exchange with Anderson High School in Lerwick.
I am well aware of the initiative in Shetland. Mr Scott has already written to my colleague Wendy Alexander about the issue. Literally moments ago, I spoke to Peter Peacock, who was in Shetland last Friday. He was briefed on the issue, and commended the initiative in Shetland.
I draw the minister's attention to the recently published figures on international comparison, which give percentages of homes directly connected to the internet. I ask him to reflect on the fact that the figure for the United States of America is 55 per cent, while the European Union average is, I am afraid, 30 per cent, the Scottish average is 19 per cent and the Highlands and Islands average is only 15 per cent.
Not for the first time, Mr Hamilton has his facts completely wrong. That is why we are developing a strategy, which is progressing well. I can assure Mr Hamilton, if he cares to engage sensibly in this important debate, that he will be fully informed, that the Highlands and Islands will not be left behind and that the Highlands and Islands are at the forefront of the Executive's thinking.
Will the minister also encourage the development of improved telecommunications in NHS Direct call centres in the Highlands and Islands? Will he support Highlands and Islands Enterprise's bid to have those call centres located around Caithness, Sutherland and Inverness? Will he further ensure that there will be no displacement of nurses to man those call centres?
Mary Scanlon raises an important subject. We have to concentrate our efforts on improving the infrastructure. That is exactly what we are setting our minds to, and is exactly what the Executive is engaging in with all the agencies across the Highlands and Islands. We are also working closely with colleagues from the DTI.
Telecommunications Masts
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made on the review of the planning legislation relating to telecommunication masts. (S1O-3602)
We have now completed consideration of the responses to our consultation paper, and we aim to lay regulations before the recess.
In the light of recent experiences in Braehead, Stirling, in my constituency, where a local agreement between the community council, the local councillor and Orange to find an alternative site for a mast was totally disregarded when Orange began building on the originally chosen site, will the minister, prior to relevant legislation being drafted, intervene to urge telecommunications companies to work effectively with local communities and not to make a pretence of talking and then go their own way? At best, that is due to a breakdown in internal communications; at worst, it is a total disregard of public concern.
The member will be aware that mobile phone companies have made a commitment to improve consultation, and to work with communities to achieve that. I believe that they are genuinely committed to doing so, but the case that Sylvia Jackson cites is only one of several that have demonstrated that there is a gap between the mobile phone companies' intention and their achievement, and between the companies doing the consulting and those making the decisions. That is why, when we introduce the regulations, we will meet our commitment to extend planning controls, and why I intend, over the summer, to meet senior figures in the main operating companies and to press them to abide by the spirit as well as the letter of their commitment to consultation.
Can the minister assure the chamber that the anomaly of ecclesiastic exemption will be addressed in the Executive's review? In Helensburgh, there are two churches in the centre of the town that are close to schools and have mobile telephone masts. That is causing great concern to the people of the area, who need to be able to see that councils' planning departments can exert authority and not have that authority overturned by that ecclesiastical anomaly.
We have reviewed the range of regulations that apply to telecom developments. When the new regulations appear, members will see that we have achieved a correct balance between the interests of communities affected by the developments that Lloyd Quinan describes and the interests of the wider economy in the continuing development of mobile phone technology.
The European commissioner for competition, Mario Monti, recently expressed concern about possible objections to operators' sharing mast sites. What will be the practical implications for Scotland if that opposition persists?
In response to Sylvia Jackson's question, I mentioned a number of commitments that the companies have already given. One of those is to promote the sensible sharing of sites and masts where that is feasible and where companies can reach agreement on doing that. Both the Scottish Executive and the UK Government take the view that operators should be encouraged to share sites and masts. We will discuss these matters with colleagues, to ensure that nothing that has been said at a European level interferes with our meeting that objective.
Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency
To ask the Scottish Executive how many Scottish and foreign fishing boats the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency has inspected so far this year to ensure that they conform to regulations on engine size. (S1O-3617)
Responsibility for carrying out checks on vessel engine power rests with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency of the Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions rather than with the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency.
Will the minister confirm that he is aware that if engine-size regulations are not enforced vigorously, widespread infraction throughout the European Union will seriously undermine any decommissioning policy that is designed to reduce fishing pressure? Does the minister intend to campaign on an EU-wide basis for more vigorous and fairer application of the regulations governing engine size?
I am grateful to Robin Harper for that supplementary. The Scottish Executive, in collaboration with the UK Government, is involved in active discussions with the Commission on the issue that he raises. We share the member's concern that there is a lack of uniformity in this area across the EU. We have been pressing the European Union to ensure that there is a consistent approach to enforcing these regulations across the member states.
School Examinations (Markers)
To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of the markers employed to mark the current diet of higher exams are first-time markers and what action is being taken to offer them appropriate training and advice. (S1O-3615)
Recruitment of markers is the operational responsibility of the Scottish Qualifications Authority. The SQA has advised me that approximately 18 per cent of markers employed for the 2001 diet will be first-time markers. All markers receive appropriate training and advice through attendance at markers meetings for their subject or through one-to-one briefings from the principal assessor in their subject.
This is about quality assurance and monitoring of standards. The minister will recall that last year's appeals process was long-drawn-out and complicated. The SQA had to deal with two batches of appeals, as it were. Does the minister have plans to ensure that this year the appeals process is completed in good time and that standards are set in which the public and all concerned have full confidence?
We have. Everyone is anxious to avoid the long-drawn-out process that Ian Jenkins describes. The SQA has carried out a major review of the appeals process, led by Anton Colella, a deputy head teacher who has been seconded to the SQA. Schools and other centres were contacted as part of that review. We have agreed with the SQA that all appeals and inquiries from pupils, parents and centres should be handled professionally and within agreed time scales, following the delivery of the results on 14 August.
If there is concern about first-time markers, does not that reinforce the case for returning marked examination scripts to schools for checking, especially in cases where both the school and the candidate are dissatisfied with the outcome of the appeal? Has the SQA reached a decision about that yet?
We will pilot the return of scripts, but it was agreed—and endorsed by the ministerial review group, on which all the stakeholders in the examination process are represented—that we should not proceed with anything new that could prejudice in any way the delivery of efficient exam results in 2001. However, we will consider pilot schemes for the return of scripts in future.
The minister will be aware that the SQA succeeded in meeting by the skin of its teeth its targets for markers only yesterday.
We are considering the issue of markers, which we are reviewing. We announced that review when we announced the 50 per cent increase in fees payable to markers. However, I emphasise that there has been a significant increase in markers over the past few years, since the introduction of the new national qualifications. That increase was sustained and accelerated this year. It is not the reluctance of individuals to come forward that has been a problem in many cases. The problem has been the growth in the number of markers required. For the first time, more than 9,000 markers are involved in the process this year.
Aquaculture
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to encourage a more sustainable aquaculture industry. (S1O-3605)
A wide range of initiatives is already in place or planned, I think 17 in total. Notable among those initiatives are the tripartite working group, which seeks to enhance dialogue and trust between farmers and wild fishery interests; the transfer of planning powers to local authorities, to improve transparency and local accountability; the application of the environmental impact assessment regulations; the comprehensive review of fish farming regulation; and our plan to establish a longer-term strategic view of the development of the industry. All those initiatives aim to strike a balance between appropriate protection of the environment and the industry's important contribution to the rural economy.
I thank the minister for his answer. I am sure that he will accept that it is becoming increasingly clear that the gulf between the salmon farming industry and environmental concerns is growing ever wider. I ask the Executive whether it will reconsider its decision not to authorise an independent public inquiry, given that the Transport and the Environment Committee and the Rural Development Committee have neither the time nor the expertise to undertake the depth of inquiry that this subject deserves.
My difficulty is that, when I took office, I faced a raft of indicators—many of which have been repeated in recent days—of the environmental lobby's concerns on the impact of that industry. At that time, the Scottish Executive made it clear how concerned it was about the way in which the salmon farming industry operates. Therefore, as I said in my previous answer, we called for a complete review of aquaculture regulation, which, until now, contained no proper assessment of the environmental impact of the industry. We will transfer marine fish farming from the Crown Estate to local authorities and introduce locational guidelines, which are being developed and which have a presumption against development in some of our most sensitive northern areas. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency undertook modelling specifically to address the effluent and therapeutic and other chemicals that are used by the industry. Finally, we have also used ERSEM—the European regional ecosystem model—which deals with nutrients.
Is the minister aware how rare it is in the salmon farming debate in Scotland to have all sides singing from the same hymn sheet? However, on the need for an independent inquiry into salmon farming in Scotland, the industry, the anglers, the environmentalists and two cross-party parliamentary committees are all agreed that it is the best and only way forward. Will the minister confirm to the chamber that his mind is not completely closed on the matter? Will he confirm that he will listen to what the members of the Transport and the Environment Committee say when he or his deputy appears before it next week?
I will certainly not trade statistics during question time. Having spoken to a number of parties about the matter, I do not think that the member is entitled to claim that everyone across those sectors is unanimous about the need for an independent inquiry—
Who? Name them.
There are individuals, both those with environmental concerns and others, who are quite keen to have those matters subjected to a review. That there should be an independent public inquiry is not the unanimous view of everyone across the industry.
I appreciate what the minister has said in his two replies today, but there is a perception among those who are concerned with wild salmon fisheries that the Executive is not taking seriously the effect of sea lice. Does the minister agree that there is evidence that sea lice and farmed salmon are affecting the health and, indeed, the survival of wild salmon? Will he outline the Executive's proposals to deal with that?
I acknowledge that there is clear evidence of serious problems in relation to sea lice. That is one of the reasons why we established the tripartite working group. It is also the reason why we established the inquiry into the use of nutrients and, much more important, of therapeutic medicines to try to cure lice. We believe that problems may be caused not only by lice but by the use of chemicals. We are dealing with those matters as part of the programme that I gave in my earlier answer to John Farquhar Munro.
National Health Service (Value for Money)
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are in place to ensure value for money in the national health service in Scotland. (S1O-3603)
Chief executives of all NHS Scotland bodies are responsible for ensuring that value for money is obtained from public funds. The effectiveness of local health bodies is kept under constant review by my department. In addition, Audit Scotland carries out periodic reviews of value for money in a variety of different areas.
I thank the minister for her reply. Does she agree that value for money is not simply another phrase for the lowest possible cost? Does she agree that previous contracting out of ancillary services in the NHS has led not only to severe reductions in the working conditions and pay of the staff who have been affected, but to a deterioration in services? Can she assure me, therefore, that future contracts will ensure that staff are properly paid for the work they do and that standards in cleansing and catering are achieved?
I welcome Scott Barrie's question. I have said before, and make no apology for repeating, that one of the many flaws of the Tory internal market in the NHS was that it knew the price of everything and the value of nothing. We are still picking up the pieces of that approach—in, for example, reduced standards. As Scott Barrie said, the internal market looked for what was cheap rather than what was good and of high quality. That was true of the support services as well as of other areas.
This question is for all who sympathise with those who are suffering severe pain, usually from chronic back conditions or arthritic conditions. I hope that the minister agrees that value for money could be provided by ending the agonising and expensive journeys that many people in severe pain have to make—sometimes as far as from Aberdeen to England—to receive proper pain relief. They have to do that because we have so few facilities here. The minister will note the petition that has been sent to her this week by 58 Scots doctors, nurses and patients. It begs for mercy for people in severe pain.
That is just what I am about to do. [Laughter.]
It is not funny for people in severe pain. They are appealing to the minister for mercy and for proper facilities for chronic pain relief in Scotland.
The essence of Scott Barrie's question was to note the importance of value for money and best value; and the essence of best value is quality. The key issue for us is to provide the best quality of care that we can to people across Scotland. Co-operating effectively to provide the best quality specialist services may mean, in some cases and in some services, that we cannot provide services in every part of Scotland, and it may even mean that Scots will go south of the border. However, in some cases people will come here from south of the border.
After that question on best value, I am sure that the minister will be interested to learn that, at the Unison conference last night, the health union voted to subject itself to a best-value review of what it gets for its funding of the Labour Party. I am sure that the result will be interesting.
I will tell Tommy Sheridan exactly what we are doing—just as I told him in this chamber last week. He has asked the same question again. Either he is not listening, or he is not hearing, or—yet again—he simply wants to do some petty point scoring. It is precisely because we think that medical secretaries' grading is important that the Scottish Executive has convened meetings between NHS employers and the trade unions. Constructive talks have been held and constructive negotiations are taking place. I hope that we will reach a resolution that will be in the best interests of all concerned.
Nephrops Quota
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in the negotiations to restore the 10 per cent cut in the nephrops quota. (S1O-3606)
All relevant data have been collected and are ready for submission to the European Commission. It will be possible to present a stronger case after the related package of measures to protect cod in the North sea has been agreed with Norway, as the outcome is likely to feature measures to reduce bycatch in the nephrops fishery.
I am sure that the minister will be aware of the importance of the prawn fishing industry to small fishing villages such as Pittenweem in north-east Fife. He will also be aware that the prawn fisheries fished by people from those small fishing villages have very little impact on other fish stocks such as cod or haddock. Can the minister assure us that he and the Scottish Executive will do all that they can to ensure that the 10 per cent cut is restored as soon as possible so that those industries can get on with fishing the prawns that are in their waters?
I appreciate that those in small fishing communities are not affected by the wider cod issues. Given that we will get only one chance to put this case, I hope that Iain Smith will accept that if we can establish that there has been a serious reduction in the bycatch as a consequence of wider discussions, that will strengthen our case. Our information suggests that it would be possible to restore that 10 per cent without damaging the fish stocks.
Does the minister agree that there never has been any threat to prawn stocks on the west coast and that the only justification for the reduction in the quota was the possibility of a bycatch? Does the minister agree with the Mallaig and North West Fishermen's Association that there has been minimal cod bycatch? Is it not therefore extremely bad news that there is to be a further delay before the application to the Commission can be made? When will that application be made, to protect the livelihoods of fishermen on the west coast of Scotland?
I detected the anger, but I was not sure what Fergus Ewing was driving at. Let us be serious about this. There will be one opportunity to negotiate the recovery of that 10 per cent of the quota, which is necessary for Scottish nephrops fisheries.
Is the minister aware that the Clyde estuary is very well stocked with prawn? Does he recall the Deputy Minister for Environment and Rural Development saying that she would go to Troon harbour to talk to local fishermen about conditions in the Clyde estuary? I acknowledge that other events took over, but will he encourage the Deputy Minister for Environment and Rural Development to come to Troon harbour to talk about fishing in the Clyde estuary?
Yes.
Erskine Bridge
To ask the Scottish Executive whether summonses have been served on those parties considered responsible for the damage to the Erskine Bridge; whether it will identify those parties, and when judicial proceedings are due to take place. (S1O-3604)
The summons has been served and will be lodged for calling at the Court of Session at the beginning of July. The identity of the parties will come into the public domain only when the summons is called. The case will then proceed under the normal rules of the court.
I thank the minister for her response. I am sure she agrees that it has taken some time to settle this matter. Indeed, it was August 1996 when a passing oil rig that should have gone under the bridge bumped into it. When those who are responsible for that maritime blunder have paid their dues, can the money be shared between the local communities north and south of the river? I can think of a number of public transport issues that could be addressed with £3 million or £4 million.
I am happy to tell the member that the Executive is seeking to recover the full cost of repairs plus interest from August 1996 to the present day, which is a substantial amount of money. If the Executive is successful, I will be happy to consider where to spend that money most effectively.
National Health Service (Tayside)
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to meet Tayside Health Board and Tayside University Hospitals NHS Trust to discuss the implications for patient care in Tayside of the trust's deficit recovery plan. (S1O-3588)
The last meeting between Scottish Executive health department officials and Tayside national health service representatives was at the accountability review that took place on 29 May 2001. The next planned meeting with the trust and board is scheduled for 3 July 2001. I plan to meet local NHS leaders when I am next in Tayside, on 4 July.
Does the minister accept that even if Tayside University Hospitals NHS Trust meets the demanding targets that have been set to balance its expenditure with its income, by April of next year it will face an outstanding accumulated deficit of £21 million? Given the huge efforts that have been made to balance the books, plus the unprecedented warnings from Tayside clinicians about the impact on patient care of any further cuts, does the minister accept that it would be not only unfair but unsafe to demand another £21 million of cuts in Tayside's NHS? Will she therefore discuss the issue with Tayside Health Board and Tayside University Hospitals NHS Trust when she meets them in July?
We have to be careful about using the language of cuts when the NHS in Tayside, just like every other part of the NHS in Scotland, is receiving record levels of additional investment. It is undoubtedly true that there have been profound problems with the financial management of the NHS in Tayside that have to be resolved. The Audit Committee of this Parliament has spent a considerable amount of time examining the issue and I cannot begin to do justice to the extent of the committee's examination.
Foot-and-mouth Disease (Information)
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in providing information on restocking and farm management to farmers who have been affected by the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak. (S1O-3612)
Detailed guidance on restocking and farm management is being drawn up and will be issued shortly to every affected farmer.
Does the minister agree that it is becoming increasingly obvious that restocking will not be possible this year? Would it be better to accept that, so that appropriate plans for contingencies and for financial and farming matters can be made? Does the minister accept that opening auction marts will play a vital part in restocking? When does he expect that to happen?
The member raises two separate, but related, matters. I do not wholly accept that it will be impossible to restock this year. However, issues must be dealt with. First, we must establish the regulatory issue of the time scale after the disinfectant programme has been fully completed. We await an answer on that matter before issuing guidance. We must also deal with the details of the way in which farmers will wish to restock.
On restocking, has the minister considered resolving possible problems with autumn sales of pedigree rams in infected areas? That will require animal movement, at least in those areas, to allow breeding of next year's lambs to progress.
I have considered that. Restocking and the way we deal with such issues are under serious discussion between my department and the state veterinary service. We are conscious of the difficulties that may be caused. I hope that the present situation continues—it is 14 to 16 days since a disease outbreak, which gives the veterinary service greater comfort. If that continues, I hope that we will be able to make appropriate adjustments.
Will the minister provide information on the 50,000 gallons of animal blood that have been doing the rounds in Clackmannan and Stirling since before the foot-and-mouth outbreak?
I am aware of the letter that George Reid sent me on that vexed subject. I understand that the matter has been referred to the procurator fiscal. In the circumstances, I should say nothing further in the chamber.
Scottish Enterprise Borders
To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met representatives of Scottish Enterprise Borders and what matters were discussed. (S1O-3598)
The First Minister, ministerial colleagues and Executive officials met representatives from the Scottish Borders on 29 May to discuss the impact of foot-and-mouth disease on the Borders and the medium and long-term measures that might be required to assist recovery. A positive meeting between local agencies and Executive officials took place on 8 June to discuss the detail of the plan. Representatives from Scottish Enterprise Borders were present at both meetings.
As the minister is aware, the Scottish Borders has a low-wage economy in which average earnings are some £50 a week less than the Scottish average. Does the minister agree that that depressed economic climate contributes to a lack of training opportunities and a skills shortage, particularly in the construction industry and related trades? From her discussions with SEB, is the minister satisfied that those skills shortages will be met, so that local businesses and not just large national companies will benefit from the contract opportunities that will come on-stream when the Borders railway build begins?
I hear a tempting whisper in my ear.
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