SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE
General Questions
Sustainable Development Strategy
To ask the Scottish Executive by what proportion it estimates that Scotland's ecological footprint will be reduced by 2015 as a result of its sustainable development strategy. (S2O-8599)
The ecological footprint powerfully illustrates how our way of life puts pressure on the world's natural resources. However, it is not yet a sufficiently robust statistical measure to be used as the basis for target setting in its own right. The actions and commitments in our sustainable development strategy and its main delivery programmes will between them help us to reduce the main elements affecting the size of Scotland's footprint, by becoming more energy efficient, reducing waste and being smarter about what we consume.
It is the opinion of many people that separate targets would be extremely useful if they were set across the board. Does the minister agree that the admission by the Executive in the news release launching the strategy that
We are absolutely committed to making Scotland an exemplar of sustainability, which will protect our natural heritage and resources in the long term, reduce our impact on the global environment and, importantly, improve the quality of life for individuals and communities throughout Scotland. That requires action on the part of all of us—Government, business and consumers—so that we all live more sustainably. We need to take action through education and opportunities for lifelong learning, but we also need to be much clearer about what sustainable development means. I agree absolutely that we must commit ourselves to improving sustainable development and integrating it into the work of the Government and the wider public sector, right across the board. That is exactly what we intend to do.
Memorandum of Understanding and Supplementary Agreements
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to review the operation of the memorandum of understanding and supplementary agreements. (S2O-8559)
The United Kingdom Government and the devolved Administrations have always been committed to keeping the text of the memorandum of understanding under review. The memorandum is working well and no wide-scale review is considered necessary at present.
I am disappointed by the minister's reply, because she knows as well as I do that she is one of the few ministers to have had a meeting under the concordats. I should explain to the chamber that the memorandum is meant to be the mechanism by which we ensure that there is joined-up government between the southern Parliament and the devolved Parliaments. I recently asked for a complete list of the meetings that have taken place. The answer: zilch, apart from meetings that were held to discuss Europe.
A question, please, not a statement.
I ask the minister to think again and say why she thinks that the Home Office can with impunity make the sort of announcement that it did about 90-day detention without having a meeting under the memorandum.
Margo MacDonald has reached her conclusion without fully appreciating the work that the Executive undertakes or its relationships with the UK Government. We have regular discussions with the UK Government on a variety of issues and across a variety of portfolios. We are in regular contact with our colleagues. We resolve a number of issues with them prior to any public discussion and we continue to discuss issues when matters go into the public domain and are discussed in both Parliaments. I am sure that I speak on behalf of all my colleagues—even though there are two parties in the Executive—when I put on record that we have very constructive and very positive relations with the UK Government, which is as committed as we are to ensuring that devolution works. Look at the track record—it is working. That is a sign of the positive relationship.
Cancer (Waiting Times)
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to reduce waiting times for cancer treatments. (S2O-8592)
As I have said many times before, the 2005 cancer waiting time target is a big challenge for the national health service. We set a stretching target and recognise that it is difficult to meet. NHS boards are well aware that meeting the cancer waiting time target is a high priority and that they must take action wherever it is needed to drive waiting times down. For example, they have put in place trackers to track all urgent referrals from initial referral through a range of diagnostic services, such as lab tests and imaging, up to the point of first treatment.
I thank the minister for that full answer. Real progress has been made on waiting times, but cancer waiting times remain more disappointing than most. The Scottish Executive has said that breast cancer patients in Scotland should wait no more than two months from the date of urgent referral by their general practitioner to the start of their treatment. In light of the fact that Edinburgh's Western general hospital in my constituency has a maximum wait of 88 days, while Aberdeen royal infirmary has a maximum wait of 276 days, what action is the Scottish Executive taking, working with boards, to end what is in effect a postcode lottery for the treatment of breast cancer patients in Scotland?
In addition to the £25 million of on-going resources for the cancer action plan and the subsequent £50 million for diagnostic equipment, which will make a substantial difference, we are working much more closely with boards. We are in regular contact with the outlier boards that are not performing as they should.
The minister to some extent answered the question that I was going to ask. Given how worried patients who might have cancer are, does the minister have any idea how long it will take to get waiting times down to an acceptable level?
The target that our NHS boards are to meet is the December 2005 target. We will report to the Parliament as and when the results against that target come in. The issue is one of getting into place all the people, equipment and resources that are needed to achieve the target. I want to maintain the pressure on our boards to ensure that we deliver.
Will the minister comment on the situation at Aberdeen royal infirmary, which appears to have the longest waiting times for breast cancer treatment in Scotland? Will he hold conversations with the bosses at Grampian NHS Board to see what can be done to reduce those waiting times? Local representatives have had many representations from constituents about long delays. As the minister well knows, there is no more anxious time than that spent by a woman who is waiting for breast cancer treatment.
As I indicated in my reply to a previous question, I acknowledge the problems in Grampian. The board has had particular difficulties in recruiting an additional surgeon and in filling a consultant radiologist post. However, given that the new consultants are now in place, the board has assured me that improvements will be made over time. I am in regular contact with it on the matter. In due course, I expect not to see a big difference between its performance and that of the rest of Scotland.
Pre-school Children (Health Checks)
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans there are to change the arrangements for health checks of pre-school children by health visitors. (S2O-8531)
We published guidance in April to implement recommendations from the fourth edition of "Health for all children"—Hall 4—which is a United Kingdom-wide review of child health screening and surveillance. Under the recommendations, there will be a minimum universal programme of health checks for every child in Scotland, with enhanced support for those families most in need.
Does the minister agree that it is vital that parents understand the changes that are taking place in this area and the reasons for them? Will he look at the way in which the information is being communicated to parents? In particular, will he ensure that health visitors are kept fully apprised of the revised arrangements so that they can communicate the information effectively, accurately and timeously to the people with whom they work?
I absolutely agree that it is vital that people should understand what is involved in the new recommendations. It is for that reason that we are producing a leaflet for distribution to parents across Scotland. Local health boards will adapt it to include local information. Boards will put in place implementation plans and work with staff to ensure that they understand fully the implications of the new recommendations that are being put into force. It is important to say that judgments will be made on the basis of the needs of families. Every family will receive the support that the assessment of that family's needs indicates that it requires.
Does the minister acknowledge the shocking levels of obesity and dental decay among young children, even among pre-school children? Cutting the number of visits that health visitors make from six to four will not help that situation. I agree that it is important that vulnerable children are targeted, but the Executive should be going forward with a progressive early intervention strategy. As far as health checks for young people are concerned, it should not be robbing Peter to pay Paul.
That is either a complete misunderstanding or a misrepresentation of the position. The Executive is putting the focus on the families who most need support. It is possible to take an abstract position on the matter and say that support should be increased for some and, at the same time, remain unchanged for others. However, if we are serious about focusing resources where they are needed, we will have to follow through in practice. That is exactly what the recommendations will do.
Fire Service Control Rooms
To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to report on the consultations on the future of emergency fire service control rooms in Scotland. (S2O-8540)
We are currently considering the conclusions of further work that was undertaken in response to our initial consultation exercise on the review of emergency fire control rooms in Scotland. In addition, we have asked Her Majesty's chief inspector of fire services to produce a report on the Scottish fire and rescue services' ability to cope with the communications challenge of a major emergency in light of the bomb attacks in London on 7 July. We will make an announcement to Parliament and stakeholders in due course.
I know that the minister is aware of the widespread concern about the future of the control rooms throughout Scotland. Is he aware of the concern in my constituency that the innovative approach that has been implemented by Fife fire service and control room staff to reduce response times is not lost? I ask whether local knowledge, which is crucial, will be given the priority that it deserves in the consultation process.
Local knowledge is a key feature in the ability to respond quickly, but so too is having access to the appropriate level of technology and information. It would be remiss of us not to reflect on the consequences and aftermath of the London bombings. We need to ensure that our infrastructure is capable and that our staff are well trained—they are and they do a fantastic job—and we need to take the time to get it right and consider all relevant factors.
It is now about 16 months since the minister promised that there would be a full consultation on emergency fire control rooms with all stakeholders. Is he aware that while the fire control room operators' futures hang in the balance, anxiety and concerns grow?
I find that statement shameful, shocking and utterly irresponsible. I acknowledge the anxieties that are caused people by uncertainty about their future. However, if we are a mature organisation and a Parliament worthy of that name, it is incumbent on us to take time to make the right decision. We need to reflect on serious events and ensure that money goes to the right places for the right equipment. Some of the investment decisions that we need to make will have to be substantial. It would be wrong of us to behave in the way that Bruce Crawford suggests. We need to get it right so that we protect people throughout Scotland.
Domestic Abuse Court
To ask the Scottish Executive, following the initial experience of the domestic abuse court in Glasgow, what plans there are to extend the project across Scotland. (S2O-8546)
We are one year into a two-year pilot and the evidence so far is very encouraging. We have commissioned a two-year evaluation that will report in early 2007.
I am sure that the chamber welcomes the success of the domestic abuse court. Coupled with the success of the youth court, it shows that the Scottish Executive is developing its court services in a positive manner. However, I am sure that the chamber would like assurances that the resources that are required to ensure that the success of the Glasgow project will be rolled out throughout Scotland will follow.
I certainly hope that the rest of Scotland can benefit from the positive lessons that we are learning from the pilot in Glasgow. I was pleased to be at its launch and at the first-anniversary conference recently. It is clear that the specialist knowledge in the domestic abuse court brings great benefits to the women who suffer from domestic abuse. Matters are being dealt with faster, there is a high conviction rate and, crucially, the ASSIST support project provides the necessary support to women who go through the court.
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