General Questions
Clyde Coastguard
We have made absolutely clear our opposition to the UK Government’s cuts to the coastguard and its proposed closure of the Clyde and Forth maritime rescue co-ordination centres. That has included our responses to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency consultations, sustained correspondence with UK ministers, engagement with staff and communities affected by the cuts, and repeated calls for those decisions to be reversed.
Representatives from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and a cross-party delegation of members have just had a meeting, and I welcome the fact that the minister showed great interest in and support for the many issues that were raised. Does he agree that, in the light of the recent incidents on the Clyde, it is vital that the Clyde coastguard station remains open instead of being closed, as is planned? Will he write to the UK Government, pressing the case for it to ensure that there is a transitional period? I am convinced that that will highlight the folly of the UK Government’s proposals.
Ministers are aware of the incidents that have been mentioned, and our thoughts are with the family and friends of the man who lost his life. As Stuart McMillan said, I met representatives of the Public and Commercial Services union from the Clyde maritime rescue co-ordination centre this morning, along with Duncan McNeil, Stuart McMillan and others. The PCS members are to be commended for their on-going professionalism at a difficult and uncertain time. I assure Stuart McMillan that the Scottish ministers will continue to press the UK Government. I will write to the UK minister with responsibility on the point that Stuart McMillan has raised about ensuring that the transitional commitments given by the UK Government are adhered to.
The minister will be aware of the vital support that is given to the Clyde coastguard by the helicopter search and rescue service that currently operates from HMS Gannet at Prestwick airport in my constituency. Does he agree that that vital service should continue to operate from HMS Gannet in support of the coastguard service, and will he please make representations to the UK Government in that regard?
That is substantially outwith my portfolio responsibility, but it points to the fact that we have a joined-up response from the emergency services just now, which we are keen to see continue. I will incorporate those comments in the approach that I make to the UK Government. If I can be assured of support from the Conservative and Liberal Democrat benches in that regard, I am sure that we can make progress with the UK Government.
Further and Higher Education (Care Leavers)
Opportunities for all was launched in April, when we guaranteed every 16 to 19-year-old in Scotland a place in education or training. Beyond that, staff across all agencies that support young people leaving care provide a range of advice and support to help them to access the opportunities that are available to them. The Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Council recently concluded three college pilot programmes that supported care leavers. The aim was to improve access to college for members of that group through providing more support and information while raising awareness of their particular needs within education. Additional funds were granted for the current academic year to support the mainstreaming of that approach.
The minister will know from previous answers given by the Government that, over nine years, only nine care leavers in the whole of Scotland have received the care leavers grant from the Student Awards Agency for Scotland. Does the minister think that that is acceptable? Will he consider reviewing the criteria for the grant?
The issue does not lie with the criteria for the grant, although the Government is always happy to receive representations on such matters. We have always acknowledged that we must get more people from care backgrounds into further and higher education, which means intervention at much earlier stages in the education process. We have encouraged universities to set admissions targets for people from looked-after backgrounds, and we intend to pursue outcome agreements in that area.
“Price and choice in remote communities”
Many of the issues that are identified in the report are reserved to Westminster. The Scottish Government believes that the powers involved—for example, on fuel taxation—should be devolved to the Scottish Parliament, which would allow us to address the issues directly.
The OFT has confirmed in detail what we already know: scattered and remote communities suffer higher prices due to monopolies and lack of competition in broadband and in the delivery of goods and fuel. Given that Highland Council procures diesel fuel for fishing vessels using the port of Lochinver, could the council do the same for vehicle and heating fuels in order to offer reduced costs for vehicle users and residents in many of our scattered communities?
Rob Gibson is right. I, too, understand that Highland Council deals with the procurement of diesel as part of the business of running harbours, which is its duty. It does not have a duty to run fuel distribution networks, which are intensely complex, and the council says that fuel may end up being even more costly if it were to undertake that burden.
Question 4, in the name of Neil Findlay, was not lodged. He has provided me with an explanation.
Racist Hate Crime
All hate crimes are deplorable and have no place in modern Scotland.
The minister might be aware of the report in the Dundee Courier on 13 June of a 50 per cent increase in race hate crime in Fife. Obviously, that is concerning. It has been suggested in reports in the newspaper that Fife Constabulary is recording those crimes differently now, which might account for the spike. Will the minister look into the spike in Fife and consider publishing some figures from Fife in the next three to six months, which will help us to see whether the issue is simply down to reporting methods or whether something more sinister underlies the figures?
It is often the case that there are variations in the national figures. Sometimes, that is to do with issues such as changes in recording methods or the fact that there has been a specific focus on a particular crime. The member is quite right to flag up the differential between Fife and other parts of Scotland. I undertake to have a closer look at the matter to try to establish the underlying causes and determine whether the issue is simply a technical one or whether a problem is developing in Fife. I will meet the member in the near future, if he wishes.
The minister will not wish to comment on the decisions that courts have made or may make on this matter, but will she, in general terms, applaud the decision that was taken by the City of Edinburgh Council—and, I believe, Dundee City Council—not to allow marches by the so-called Scottish defence league? Does she agree that there is no place in Scotland for the Scottish defence league’s message of hate against ethnic minority communities in general and the Muslim community in particular? [Applause.]
The applause perhaps gives the member the answer that he might expect. I suspect that every member in the chamber is united in their abhorrence of the message that is being promulgated in Scotland by what is a small group of individuals who insist on making arguments that the rest of us simply do not and never will agree with. I commend those councils that are taking active steps to prevent that message from being broadcast even more loudly on the streets of Scotland’s cities.
Small Business Bonus Scheme (Jobs)
Two out of five commercial premises in Scotland pay no or low business rates under the small business bonus scheme. Since its introduction by this Government, the scheme has reduced the tax paid as business rates by £420 million. The Scottish Government estimates that the scheme has sustained many thousands of jobs in small and medium-sized businesses throughout the country.
I thank the minister for his response, but it does not answer my question. I asked how many jobs had been created and how the information was collected. The fact that he was unable to answer the question has partly answered it.
I used to run a small business. If anyone had said then that I could get help to reduce my business rates, I would have known that that was a great thing.
Private Drains and Sewers
The rules on the adoption of private drains and sewers have been agreed by the Government and the Water Industry Commission for Scotland. Those rules are laid out clearly in information leaflets on Scottish Water’s website. In connecting new customers, Scottish Water must ensure that drains and sewers meet a required level of performance and do not create liabilities that it would fall to existing customers to fund.
The cabinet secretary will be aware that there are new builds in Scotland that, for obvious economic reasons, are unlikely to be completed for a significant period. Some of those schemes have been built in part and, in piping terms, are complete. Such schemes could be adopted, were the rules to allow it.
As always, I would be more than happy to meet the member to discuss any particular problems that he has in his constituency and to invite the senior management of Scottish Water to such a meeting to try to resolve any issues that need to be addressed.
In Auchengate in my constituency, there is a small development of 76 residential properties that were previously owned by the Ministry of Defence. The residents of those properties are responsible for the sewerage system and the pumping station. In discussion with Scottish Water about Scottish Water adopting the system, it transpired that the residents are also responsible for about a mile of the sewerage system, until it reaches an adjacent village. Scottish Water has refused to adopt the system until it is upgraded, which the residents have been told could cost upwards of £0.5 million. Will the cabinet secretary look at the specifics of the matter and perhaps discuss it with me and Scottish Water to look for some resolution?
I am already aware of the problem and investigating the specifics of it. Once I have concluded my investigations, I will write to the member, after which I am more than happy to meet her, along with senior management from Scottish Water, to try to resolve any outstanding issues.
Sectarianism
The curriculum for excellence provides the right environment to enable our young people to develop as informed and responsible citizens, and education remains central to the Scottish Government’s approach to tackling sectarianism. I am therefore delighted that Education Scotland will highlight its work to combat sectarianism at this year’s Scottish learning festival, which will showcase best practice in the area. That best practice includes a range of projects that are currently funded by the Scottish Government and which use many approaches, such as the arts, sports and classroom-based learning, to deliver real outcomes for our young people.
Will the minister join me in congratulating the Larkhall community on being awarded the first Nil by Mouth communities award, which was granted for the positive work that has been undertaken by the community, the churches and the Machan Trust to tackle sectarianism? I convey an invitation to the minister to see the great work that the Machan Trust in Larkhall does in tackling the scourge of sectarianism in its community.
I am delighted to join my colleague Christina McKelvie in applauding the creativity of the Machan Trust and staff and pupils on the initiative. That initiative is an example of the great work that is happening in Larkhall and the surrounding area, and is one of the reasons why Larkhall has become the first area in Scotland to receive the Nil by Mouth award, which recognises several years of hard work in uniting people of different religious and cultural backgrounds.
Edinburgh International Culture Summit
The first ever gathering of culture ministers from around the world will take place in the Scottish Parliament, for which I give many thanks to the Presiding Officer. It will be hosted by the Scottish Government, Edinburgh International Festival, the United Kingdom Government and the British Council, and will take place on 13 and 14 August. The culture summit will showcase the best of Scottish culture, position Scotland as a leader in international cultural debate and, in the year of creative Scotland, celebrate and enhance Scotland’s reputation as a highly creative nation.
Does the cabinet secretary agree that the international cultural discourse fostered by the summit will enhance Scotland’s international reputation?
The summit will enhance understanding of the creative and cultural reputation of Scotland and the UK and the potential for full international relationships that are based on cultural ideas; it will promote international dialogue; and it will consolidate relationships with developing countries. It will also make a valuable contribution to the overall success of the year of creative Scotland and the cultural olympiad, which will, of course, kick off tonight in the Raploch, where the big noise orchestra will perform with the Simón Bolívar youth orchestra and Gustavo Dudamel. That is a great opportunity to showcase Scotland.
Question 10 was not lodged by Elaine Murray, but I have had an explanation for that.