Contents
- Scottish Parliament Thursday 21 November 2002 (Morning)
- Title Conditions (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
- Title Conditions (Scotland) Bill: Financial Resolution
- Extradition Bill
- Business Motion
- Question Time
- First Minister's Question Time
- Foot-and-mouth Disease Inquiries
- Presiding Officer's Ruling
- Parliamentary Bureau Motions
- Decision Time
- Affordable Rural Housing
Question Time
SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE
Urban Sub-post Offices
To ask the Scottish Executive what business advice it is supplying to urban sub-post offices to expand their role. (S1O-5935)
Sub-post offices are eligible to receive the full range of business advisory services that the enterprise networks make available to small businesses.
The minister will be aware that about a third of sub-post offices in towns and cities—perhaps 500 to 600 in total—are threatened with closure. Does he agree that such closures would be an unacceptable loss to local communities and particularly to older people, to say nothing of the 1,500 jobs that might be lost? Will he take action now to establish a Scottish task force along with Consignia and some of the national supermarket chains such as Spar and Mace to consider expanding and modernising post office services and developing new services? Scotland should lead the way on that crucial matter.
I am perfectly happy to liaise with the Royal Mail Group and with colleagues south of the border to ensure that we can assist the Post Office Ltd during the transitional phase. Since 26 March 2001, the Government's role in the Royal Mail Group has been that of a shareholder in a public limited company. Under the Government's reforms, the group has been given greater commercial freedom and has established an arm's-length relationship with the Government, so that its board can run the company on a commercial basis. I understand that that involves the Post Office Ltd in co-operation with many national chains and groups. I wish that to be expanded and I would like opportunities to be increased for people to use post office services in the localities that have been mentioned.
Notwithstanding that reply, does the minister agree that small urban post offices, which serve many elderly and disabled people, would benefit from an expansion of services? For example, the Anderston post office in my constituency can open only two days a week.
I agree with what the member suggests. The Scottish Executive has received £1.5 million as a result of the £15 million that was allocated in England to establish a fund for post offices in deprived areas such as those that Pauline McNeill described. We acknowledge that post offices can play a pivotal role, especially in deprived areas, and we intend to establish a fund for post offices in deprived urban areas that will be similar to the model that is being developed in England. I expect to make an announcement on that in due course.
Was that £1.5 million the money that the Department of Trade and Industry originally allocated to the Executive to prosecute the "Your Guide" pilot in Scotland?
No. The two funds are separate. The Executive is developing the equivalent of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's scheme to support core post office services and the development of associated retail facilities in deprived urban districts, as Robert Brown explained. As I said, I intend to announce shortly how the Executive will spend that money.
Ayrshire (Economy)
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to expand the Ayrshire economy. (S1O-5934)
We are working with local partners in the Ayrshire economic forum, which agreed on 8 November the principles of an action plan to boost the economy and create jobs. We also continue to invest in transport services and infrastructure in Ayrshire.
Is the minister aware that 3,557 redundancies have been announced in Ayrshire in the past 12 months, compared with just 381 job gains, and that a job threat hangs over 1,000 workers at BAE Systems Aerostructures in Prestwick? Given that, does he agree that local strategies can do only so much and that what we really need is a vigorous Government with economic policies and action plans that are custom built for Scotland, not for south-east England?
I agree with that sentiment, which is why I fully support the economic strategy of the UK Government and the Executive, which is to put the focus on science and skills as the way of creating jobs in Ayrshire and right across Scotland in the future.
The minister is aware of the consultation document "The Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom: Scotland". He will also be aware of the feeling in Ayrshire that the report does not recognise adequately the impact of low-cost air travel on future airport development. Does he accept that, as the model is flawed—which means that the outcome of the consultation will also be flawed—the report is in danger of hindering the development of Prestwick airport and the creation of new jobs and economic growth in the Prestwick area?
No, I do not accept that at all. I accept, of course, the important contribution that Prestwick international airport is making to the economy of Ayrshire and, indeed, the economy of Scotland. That is why the consultation document identifies opportunities for Prestwick, as well as for Scotland's other major airports, to expand in the future.
The member made a point about the projected figures for low-cost air travel. I recognise that low-cost airlines are a relative newcomer to the market. We do not yet know their capacity for growth, but if it exceeds the figures that are given in the consultation document, no one will be more pleased than the minister with responsibility for transport.
Does the minister agree that the upgrade of the A77 to motorway status will provide opportunities to build and expand the economy of Ayrshire? Will he undertake to ensure that Scottish Enterprise actively promotes that opportunity in advance of the award of the tender for the upgrade?
Yes. Scottish Enterprise Ayrshire is already doing good work in promoting the new road connection to the Glasgow area as a gateway to Ayrshire and as an opportunity for economic development. We very much encourage Scottish Enterprise Ayrshire to continue doing that and to work in partnership with the local economic forum in advancing those economic opportunities.
Small Towns (Development)
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to promote the development of small towns. (S1O-5907)
We have published advice in planning advice note 52, "Planning in Small Towns".
The minister will be aware of the continuing economic decline of small towns in rural areas, which is largely the result of the decline in income from the agricultural sector. Where there are local initiatives to try to reverse that decline, such as the proposal to designate Blairgowrie in my area as Scotland's game town, what help can such small towns expect from the Executive? In particular, will the business recovery fund that was set up following the foot-and-mouth outbreak be extended to provide help to such initiatives, as has happened south of the border?
I will try to be as specific as I can be within my portfolio responsibilities. Planning policy should support Scotland's economic competitiveness across the range of places in Scotland, whether villages, towns or cities. We want the planning system to do that. We would work across the Executive and across interests to ensure that we can support small towns in the economic circumstances that they face. We would try to join up Executive interests across departments to do that.
On the effects of the rundown of the Ministry of Defence's West Freugh base on the development of Stranraer, will the minister or one of her colleagues undertake to pressure the Ministry of Defence to release as many of the land-based assets of the base as possible so that they can be used by alternative commercial developers?
Implicit in the member's question is the acknowledgement that the Ministry of Defence has a strong interest in doing that. I cannot tell the member of any conversations that I would have with the Ministry of Defence on that subject. In respect of how land use development is progressed, the Executive always tries to maximise economic opportunities in tune with the needs of local people and local economic interests.
My constituency of Midlothian borders on the city of Edinburgh, which has a rapidly growing economy. Will the impacts of that situation on such constituencies be taken into consideration in any policy development on cities?
Through the planning system, we would ensure that the different interests of different towns and cities are properly accommodated. That would allow us to understand whether the economic expansion of Edinburgh, for example, has a knock-on effect. The review of strategic planning picks up on those issues. I am sure that any consequences of the cities review for towns that surround those cities will be a matter of discussion following the publication of the review.
Question 4 is withdrawn.
Less Favoured Area Support Scheme
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will revise the less favoured area support scheme with regard to minimum stocking densities. (S1O-5927)
I acknowledge the member's particular interest in the matter, which affects certain aspects of his constituency. The minimum stocking density provision in the less favoured area support scheme for 2003 followed consultation and was agreed earlier this year by the industry working group, which included the Scottish Crofting Foundation. The new arrangements have been agreed by the European Commission. However, although there is no opportunity to change the overall scheme, we will continue to review minimum stocking density provision and, where appropriate, we will seek changes for the future.
From the number of times that I have raised the issue, the minister will be well aware that a sector of the crofting community in the most marginal areas is losing out, despite the agreement and the fact that additional money is being allocated. For example, in areas of west Sutherland and Wester Ross, crofters are losing as much as £1,000 per croft. Such a situation fundamentally threatens crofting in the most fragile areas. Will the minister please undertake to examine that sector with a view to righting that wrong?
As I have indicated, I am aware of the matter that the member has raised. The application of the scheme has caused concern across the area that he represents. However, the difficulty is that the situation is not uniform. For example, as far as the total amount is concerned, the crofters represented in the Lairg office have gained 5 or 6 per cent compared with what they would have received under the hill livestock compensatory allowance scheme, which the less favoured area scheme replaced in 2000. Indeed, 53 per cent have gained under the scheme and the figure for Thurso has increased by 10 per cent. However, I am aware that the scheme is not operating in that way for everyone, which is why we need to keep it under close review.
Does the minister agree that funding under the less favoured area support scheme should, by definition, be distributed in areas such as the Western Isles and Jamie Stone's constituency, where crofters face a great number of challenges, including the quality of arable land, the distance from markets and climatic problems? Moreover, will he agree to a meeting in Edinburgh with crofting representatives from the Western Isles, who have a number of queries about the formula that is being applied?
I am very happy to do so.
White Fish Stocks
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any new scientific work has been commissioned with regard to white fish stocks. (S1O-5918)
Yes. We continue to review the research programme of our marine laboratory as necessary. In light of recent announcements, the whole issue of white fish stocks is clearly our top priority.
Has the minister taken any steps to investigate why European scientists have not assessed the impact on white fish stocks of their recommendations on total allowable catches for the industrial fishery in the North sea? That fishery simply hoovers up juvenile white fish to turn them into soup for pigs and chickens, removing the cod food supply from the North sea. Will the minister get his scientists to start working to defend Scotland's fishermen and ensure that Europe hits the right target, which is the industrial fishery, not our fishing communities? Will he also acknowledge that the European Commission's proposal to cut quotas by 80 per cent would devastate those communities?
I think that we all agree with the feeling behind Mr Lochhead's final question. We should see that proposal as Mr Fischler's opening gambit, but, even so, it is certainly unacceptable to every member in the chamber.
I regard dealing with the lack of scientific evidence in support of the continued use of the industrial fishery as a priority. The use of the pout and sand eel fishery for industrial purposes is a clear threat to the underlying supply in the North sea. We are investigating those and other issues with our scientists with a view to asking a broader scientific body the relevant question.
The minister will be aware of the recently published Fisheries Research Services industry-science partnership reports on joint work between fishermen and scientists, which appears to have been very successful. Does he agree that increased partnership and joint working is needed between the fishing industry and the science community to increase confidence in fish stocks reporting? Does he agree that that should include all sectors that are interested in a healthy marine ecosystem, including fish processors, catchers and scientists?
Yes. I congratulate the member on having read those reports, which were published only a day or two ago. They are a lengthy read but demonstrate clearly the point that she makes that co-operation and collaboration between the industry and scientists is essential. She is right that the reports' conclusions are supportive of what we have been trying to do. We need to take that further. Both reports are a clear indication of how valuable the work has been for both sides.
Will the minister explain to the chamber why he thinks Franz Fischler is pressing for a total closure this year, given that the scientists have shown that the stocks are healthier than they were last year, when Franz Fischler did not press for such a ban?
That is one of the issues that we are trying to reconcile with great and increasing difficulty. Mr Fischler has his position, but the negotiating stance that he has taken as an opening gambit is wholly unacceptable. I want to ask scientists that question, too. As the member will know, their work is in two parts: the evidential base and their recommendation. There is clearly tremendous inconsistency between the nature of the advice and the information on which it is based. There are also issues about the fact that scientists have rebased some of the data. Those are some of the matters with which my officials and I are dealing to try to determine whether we can understand better the change to which the member referred.
Did the Scottish Executive press the European Commission for a scientific assessment of the conservation measures that Scottish fishermen have taken? If it did press, did it succeed? If it did not press, why not?
I understand perfectly the point that Winnie Ewing makes, but we should be clear that it is not for Governments or the Commission to determine the way in which the scientists—who represent the principal scientific groups from the member states that have an interest in the North sea—conduct their inquiries. It is regrettable that the database from which the evidence has emerged is, by its nature, some six to nine months out of date, which is what the member was referring to. The point that the Scottish Executive has been making is that, rather than just looking at evidence of a trend in the stocks, the European Commission must take account both of decommissioning and of the technical measures that have been put in place since the essential database was produced.
School Transport
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to ensure the safety of children conveyed by school transport. (S1O-5943)
Local authorities must keep safety issues under continual review. We plan to update and reissue current Executive guidance on school transport.
Does the minister accept that there is still considerable concern in constituencies such as mine where there have been tragic deaths of people being conveyed by school transport? Will she undertake to liaise with local authorities, particularly about the types of vehicle that are used for school transport and the training that is given to staff on those vehicles? Will she also continue to liaise with the United Kingdom Government about the statutory use of seat belts in all vehicles that are used for school transport?
I am well aware of the issues that Karen Gillon raises. I believe that it is important that we revisit the relevant circular, which was issued back in April 1996. We will liaise with all the relevant authorities to ensure that we protect our children who travel on school transport.
In considering the guidance on school transport, will the minister confirm that communities should as far as possible be kept together for transport purposes rather than divided? The case to which I refer is in Ashgill in South Lanarkshire, where a small number of pupils are denied transport while the majority of the village has it. That is an important safety consideration, particularly on winter nights.
The regulations allow for local authorities to take into account aspects of school safety at all times when they are considering transport and I would expect them to do that.
Severe Weather (Gritting)
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any provision is in place to assist local authorities with additional gritting should there be a particularly severe winter. (S1O-5925)
Gritting of local roads is the responsibility of local authorities, and it is for each council to identify adequate resources to meet adverse winter weather conditions.
The minister will be aware that Stirling's Labour-SNP-controlled council is to reduce by a fifth the length of its priority gritting routes in an attempt to restrict winter maintenance expenditure. Does he share my concern about that situation? Does he agree that the council's decision is ironic, coming as it does after his announcement just this week of ring-fenced money for safer streets in the Stirling Council area?
It is certainly not for ministers to second-guess the decisions of local authorities, whatever party they are controlled by. We expect local authorities to plan adequately, and, when they make their plans, to take cognisance of the weather conditions that they can predict for their own areas and of their responsibilities for the local road network. We also expect them to work jointly with the police and the trunk road operating companies to ensure a co-ordinated approach to maintaining the safe flow of traffic during the winter months.
Does the minister agree that, although extra money from the Scottish Executive is always welcome, Stirling Council's efforts in relation to gritting local roads are good, both in terms of the number of classified category A roads that it has compared with neighbouring authorities and in terms of the funding increase, however slight, over last year's figures?
It is certainly the case that Stirling has more than its fair share of main roads that lie outwith the trunk road network, and the council has made significant efforts to maintain that infrastructure and keep roads clear in winter. Stirling Council should be commended for that work. It recognises the importance of spending money on roads, as do many other councils. It is the responsibility of local authorities to carry out that work, and I have no reason to doubt that they will do that this winter, as they did last winter.
Does the minister agree that failure to grit roads in the Scottish Borders timeously last winter was both unacceptable and dangerous? Does he further agree that the solution lies in deprivatising trunk roads maintenance, ripping up the Amey contract and providing proper funding for local authorities to do the job, so that they can be held democratically accountable when the job is not properly done?
I would be interested to know how much expenditure Christine Grahame is committing her party to, given the implicit terms of that question. It is important to say that the responsibility for trunk roads lies as clearly with the operating company as the responsibility for local roads lies with the local councils. That is why we have in place a performance audit group to carry out independent audits of the performance of the trunk road operating companies. Information about that is available in the Scottish Parliament information centre for any member who cares to read it.
Is the minister aware that a number of local authorities are seriously concerned about being unable to gain access to local roads to clear and grit them unless the trunk roads are kept clear? What assurance can he give us that trunk road maintenance companies will deal with the problem routes quickly? Let us deal with the situation as it is, not as it would be in cloud-cuckoo-Grahame-land.
Keith Raffan makes a fair point. We recognised that there is a close relationship between the trunk road network and the local road network when it comes to maintaining the free flow of traffic. That is why this year we have encouraged local authorities to hold a winter maintenance conference with the operating companies, the police and ourselves to address those issues and to find ways of resolving them in advance of the worst winter weather.
Question 9 is withdrawn.
Street Traders (Regulation)
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the existing powers of councils with regard to the regulation of the sale of unofficial merchandise by street traders outside football grounds are inadequate and, if so, whether it will strengthen such powers. (S1O-5921)
Local authorities have powers to license street traders and to attach such conditions to those licences as they consider appropriate, including banning the sale of paramilitary material. Any breach is a criminal offence, and it is also open to local authorities to suspend a licence. In light of that, we do not consider that any additional powers are required.
That is encouraging because when I corresponded with Glasgow City Council earlier in the year, it clearly thought that it had inadequate powers. Will the minister ensure that Glasgow City Council fully appreciates what he has just said?
There have been recent exchanges between Dr Simpson, who chairs the cross-party group that the Executive has set up to look at legislation, and Glasgow City Council. The council has recently written back confirming that it is well aware of the powers. In fact, it has made it clear that only football memorabilia are authorised to be licensed and sold outside football grounds. It has recently been in touch with traders to remind them of that and with Strathclyde police to ask for help with enforcement. Therefore, Glasgow City Council is well aware of the problem and is taking appropriate action to clamp down on it.
I applaud Donald Gorrie's tenacity on the subject. Will the minister join me in congratulating North Lanarkshire Council on its implementation of the section in the Licensing (Scotland) Act 1976 that relates to anti-sectarianism and anti-racism, which led to the suspension of the licences of two public houses with sectarian associations? Will he support me in urging other councils to follow that example?
Such matters are left to local authorities, which are in the best position to exercise local judgment, and I am happy to leave North Lanarkshire Council to exercise that judgment.
Nephrops
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will now seek to negotiate a reinstatement of the 10 per cent reduction in the west of Scotland nephrops quotas. (S10-5911)
There is no question about whether the Scottish Executive will now do so; we are already pursuing the case for the restoration of the west of Scotland nephrops total allowable catch to the historic level that it reached in 2002.
Does the minister agree that, unlike other species, prawns are in plentiful supply? Is he aware that only 4 tonnes of the 1,204 tonnes that have been landed in west coast ports in the past 12 months were of cod? The bycatch is not only incidental—it is near zero. Will he visit Mallaig to hear at first hand the fishermen's concerns and their fears of a bleak future unless the cut is reinstated?
It goes without saying that I would not actively pursue the Commission if I was not aware of the facts to which the member referred. The case is clear. We put the issue of the association between nephrops catches and bycatches of cod to the Commission well over a year ago. As I said in answer to the member's first question, we have reopened the case and we are actively pursuing it. I am always happy to meet members who are affected by the matter and I have made it clear that the Scottish Executive's negotiating position is that, under the current arrangements, we are opposed to any cuts in the nephrops fishery.
In view of the scientific evidence that has been presented to the Commission, will the minister explain why the Commission has completely rejected the argument that the 10 per cent cut should be reinstated? Given the evidence that has been put forward, will he make a stab at explaining why the Commission should make the ludicrous proposal to cut prawn quotas again this year? That proposal should be swept from the table forthwith.
I can do many things, but trying to get into the mind of the Commission is not something that I or probably any other minister in the European Community can do. I cannot give an explanation—I can reiterate only that the present position is untenable. We continue to make our position clear to the Commission. It has received the evidence, which we have resubmitted. We continue to make our position clear: there is no justification for reducing the nephrops fishery catch.
The Scottish Executive already has in its hands evidence that prawn fishing does not take significant bycatches of cod. Does the minister recognise that almost 90 per cent of the prawn quota is in British hands? Will he ensure that, aside from the 10 per cent that should not have been taken away in the first place, there will be no further cuts? Can he get Franz Fischler to guarantee that there will be no further cuts in the industry, which will come under huge pressure thanks to what is going on in the demersal fishery?
With all due respect, the member's questions are not entirely dissimilar to George Lyon's questions, which were based on Fergus Ewing's question in the first place. If the member was not listening to my first answer, I will repeat it: we are opposed to a reduction in the nephrops fishery. I cannot give a guarantee, but on the third time of asking, I am happy to give the same response.
Rough Sleeping
To ask the Scottish Executive whether rough sleeping will have ended by 1 May 2003. (S1O-5905)
The programme for government target and the social justice target is that, by 2003, no one should have to sleep rough. We will never stop people sleeping rough who choose to do so, but sufficient resources have been, and continue to be, made available to ensure the provision of appropriate services and accommodation to meet the needs of those who find themselves roofless. In addition, since September 2002, local authorities have had a duty to provide temporary accommodation, advice and assistance to everyone who has been assessed as homeless.
Given that the minister has said that rough sleeping is likely to be with us for a considerable time, does he agree that it was not only crass and insensitive but downright dishonest for the Deputy First Minister to state on "Newsnight Scotland" on 20 October:
"The Liberal Democrats will have ended rough sleeping by 1 May 2003"?
I am aware of neither that interview nor the context in which the comment was made. What the Executive has done is clear. The coalition has provided significant resources and we will continue to do so. More than 800 bed spaces have been provided along with more than 30 outreach projects, 11 rent deposit schemes, nine health projects and six prison-based advice and support projects. We have done everything that we believe necessary to create the conditions for the ending of rough sleeping. We will continue to act jointly on the matter.
Apropos of Mr Gibson's comments, if the minister is relying on the Liberal Democrats, he will still have the problem in 2013.
Is that a question?
Will the minister respond to that, or does he have plans for the Liberal Democrats?
No. We must have a question.
I congratulate the minister on the efforts that have been made. Does he agree with the view of a number of the homelessness agencies that have told me that the burden of rough sleepers initiative spending may have veered a little bit too far towards advice, with too little going into the support and bricks-and-mortar facilities that are needed? Those agencies doubt whether the target of ending the need to sleep rough by 2003 will readily be met.
No. The resources have been targeted at a range of support services, not just at advice. We recognise that some people who require support and assistance have complex needs and money is going into a diverse range of support services. As far as we are concerned, the physical places are being made available. The most recent estimate was that there were more places throughout Scotland—including Glasgow and Edinburgh—than there were people sleeping rough. However, we are aware that there is an issue about the quality of the accommodation, which we are investing heavily in through our Glasgow hostels decommissioning programme. We are aware of some of the problems that are caused by inappropriate accommodation; I think that we have got the balance right, but we will continue to monitor the situation.
Aside from issues of bricks and mortar, does the minister agree that vulnerable people also need information, advice and support if they are to avoid rough sleeping? Can he also indicate—aside from the Liberal Democrats—the prevalence of rough sleeping in Scotland?
I agree that information and advice must be provided. Local authorities are charged with the responsibility of ensuring that everyone who requires the relevant information is provided with it. We are waiting on the latest target figures from our census. When the figures are available, I will ensure that Brian Fitzpatrick gets a copy of them.
Whales and Dolphins (Sonar)
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it or its agencies and non-departmental public bodies have had with Her Majesty's Government or the Royal Navy regarding the use of low-frequency active sonar and its effect on whales and dolphins. (S1O-5926)
The Scottish Executive environment and rural affairs department and Scottish Natural Heritage are involved in regular liaison meetings with the Ministry of Defence and the Royal Navy, at which a range of issues, including the use of sonar, is discussed. Following the annual meeting of the MOD liaison committee on environmental matters on 2 October 2002, the MOD reported that substantial work and resources are going into environmental impact assessments. Those assessments are undertaken prior to trials in order to identify appropriate mitigation measures with respect to the impact of sonar on cetacean behaviour.
Research off the coast of the United States has shown that low-frequency active sonar has a deleterious effect on whales—I believe that its use is already banned from some coastal areas in the United States. Given that whale watching off the west coast of Scotland is growing in popularity, will the minister, in defence of our tourism industry, make representations to prevent the testing of low-frequency active sonar off our coast? I draw the minister's attention to the fact that Greenpeace's ship, the Rainbow Warrior, is in Leith at the moment.
I welcome the opportunity to address public speculation on that issue, which was initiated by the normally reliable West Highland Free Press and which the much less reliable Mr Robin Harper repeats. The Scottish Agricultural College's veterinary service, which co-ordinates information on strandings in Scottish waters, has advised us that 12 strandings were reported in January 2002, compared with eight in January 2001. The figures for February 2002 and February 2001 were nine and 13 respectively. There is no evidence of an increased number of strandings in the vicinity of the tests. EIAs are undertaken for all trials and it is MOD policy to publish such documents, when there are operational reasons for so doing.
Roads (Tolls)
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will rule out imposing tolls or charges on any new or upgraded roads. (S1O-5914)
We have no current plans to impose tolls or charges on the trunk road network, but we will continue to explore all available options for tackling congestion.
What are the minister's plans for the upgrade of the A80? Does he recognise that, contrary to his answer to me of 7 November, the central Scotland transport corridor study notes explicitly the need for demand management and highlights the potential for congestion charging or road-user charges—in other words, tolls? How can the people of central Scotland conclude anything other than that the Government plans to impose a new poll tax on them for the use of the roads in their area?
I am sure that the people of central Scotland will come to conclusions about what we will do with the A80 when we announce our decision, which we expect to do in the next few weeks.
I know that the minister is considering the responses of the public to the recommendations of the transport corridor study, some of which are on tolls and charges. Will he assure me that he will consider the views of the Kilsyth pensioners who signed my petition on the matter—some of whom are in the public gallery—and who oppose the recommendations in the study? Will he confirm that he expects to make an announcement on the matter before the end of this calendar year?
We expect to make an announcement soon. For the removal of doubt, I clarify that none of the recommendations in the consultant's report is for the introduction of tolls or charges on the A80 in the period that is under discussion. I confirm that we will consider carefully the consultant's recommendations, the responses to the consultation process and the views that have been expressed by the community that Cathie Craigie represents and other communities in the affected area.
Is the minister aware of the importance of the southern section of the A77, particularly for through traffic to Northern Ireland? Is he aware of the problems in Maybole, which is totally unsuited to the volume of traffic that goes through it?
The question was about charges.
Does the minister have any plans—involving tolls or otherwise—for the provision of a bypass for Maybole?
We have no plans for tolls in Maybole.
Schools (Investment)
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with local authorities with regard to using joint-venture companies as a vehicle for investment in schools. (S1O-5924)
The Executive is aware that some councils are considering the joint-venture approach. Substantive discussions will take place on specific proposals in the context of the outline business cases that the councils will submit to the Executive.
According to Dundee City Council, joint-venture companies attract private investment and ensure that 90 per cent of any profits that are generated are reinvested in schools. Such companies also ensure that cleaning, facilities management and property maintenance are subcontracted to council departments and workers. Given that view, why has the Scottish Executive not dumped the hated public-private partnerships and replaced them with joint-venture companies?
It is entirely possible to promote a joint-venture approach within the context of PPP, and we are open to innovative approaches. There are tried and tested methods of delivering school building programmes that have significant advantages. We are seeking to minimise risk and enable the quick delivery of the school building programme that we have established. It is the biggest school building programme this century, and we will consider any sensible proposals in that context.
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