SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE
General Questions
Three questions have been withdrawn, so I propose to suspend the meeting at 11:55, which will give us five minutes to fill the room for First Minister's questions.
Scottish Compact
To ask the Scottish Executive what inquiries it has made to ascertain whether the voluntary sector believes that the Executive is fulfilling the commitments made in the Scottish compact. (S2O-9427)
In line with the Scottish compact implementation strategy commitments, in 2004, the Scottish Executive commissioned GEN Consulting to establish the baseline for Scottish compact implementation throughout the voluntary and public sector. Follow-up monitoring will be undertaken later this year.
A considerable number of voluntary organisations have complained to me that the promises that were made in the compact about how funding would be dealt with are not being met adequately. Many organisations do not know whether their funding will be renewed until a month or two before it is due for renewal, which prevents them from operating efficiently. Will the minister examine whether such practical details of the compact are working?
Yes. Our vision, to which the voluntary sector is signed up, is that we will work closely with the sector. It is important that local authorities and other agencies that work with the voluntary sector are aware of the need for mutual respect. If funding issues exist, it is important to address them. That is why we are developing our work in the strategic funding review and why we are committed to three-year rolling funding.
Careers Scotland (Transfer of Responsibility)
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will transfer responsibility for Careers Scotland from Scottish Enterprise to align it with the Executive's Education Department in order to promote earlier intervention with pupils to address Scotland's record of having the highest percentage in Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development-surveyed countries of 16 to 19-year-olds not in education, employment or training. (S2O-9422)
I call Fiona Hyslop—I am sorry, I mean Allan Wilson.
Fiona Hyslop's answer would probably be better.
Fiona Hyslop would have had to answer her own question.
I thank the minister for his answer and look forward to his response in due course. Careers Scotland staff constitute 40 per cent of Scottish Enterprise staff. Will he guarantee that Careers Scotland's important work will not be damaged by the current financial crisis? A transfer out of Scottish Enterprise would be one way to guarantee that.
I cannot comment on talk of mergers. As everyone is aware, Careers Scotland is part of the enterprise network. I wish to ensure that Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise continue to deliver their range of services to support economic development. In that context, indulging in speculation would be unhelpful. However, I fully appreciate the point about the uncertainty for staff in Careers Scotland. We intend to address the issue as soon as possible so that we can remove any remaining uncertainty.
Does the minister agree that it is completely unsatisfactory that members of the Parliament learn about Scottish Enterprise's overspend and potential job losses through the pages of the newspapers? Is it not time that we had a ministerial statement on the future of Scottish Enterprise so that we can ask the appropriate minister questions about the organisation's future?
The Deputy First Minister and Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning has already made it clear in this morning's debate that he intends to keep Parliament fully informed about developments at Scottish Enterprise.
Antisocial Behaviour Orders (Glasgow)
To ask the Scottish Executive how many interim antisocial behaviour orders in Glasgow have been applied for and granted by the courts. (S2O-9381)
A survey of local authorities in Scotland revealed that nine interim orders were granted in Glasgow in 2004-05. That is an increase from zero in 2003-04. We have no centrally held data on the number of applications for interim antisocial behaviour orders.
First, it would be helpful to have information on the number of applications for interim antisocial behaviour orders. Secondly, will the minister write to a number of authorities throughout Scotland to remind them of that legal remedy, for which many members in the Parliament campaigned? Will he ensure that interim ASBOs are used as an effective mechanism to tackle antisocial behaviour?
Several issues have been raised with me about the use of the new powers. Clearly, there are concerns that the powers are not being used as extensively or as effectively in some parts of the country as in others. That is one reason why we are circulating a regular newsletter among local agencies, politicians and other groups. It will let people see what is happening across Scotland, which will enable them to ask their local agency why it is not using those powers and engaging co-operatively and collaboratively as happens in other areas. I will visit a number of areas to discuss with people how they plan to roll out their use of those powers. Paul Martin can be assured that I will look closely at those areas of the country that appear not to be using the powers and money in the way that was intended.
Planning etc (Scotland) Bill (Rights of Appeal)
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider granting rights of appeal under the Planning etc (Scotland) Bill to individuals who are in receipt of a neighbour notification as a result of a planning application. (S2O-9424)
The Planning etc (Scotland) Bill contains a range of measures that will enhance community participation in the planning system. Current planning law does not include third-party rights of appeal. We do not propose to change that.
I understand why the minister does not want to allow outside third parties to lodge appeals—the so-called third-party right of appeal—but people in receipt of a neighbour notification are often aggrieved about planning decisions. Such neighbours do not have the right of appeal that is allowed to developers, even though neighbours are directly involved in the process. Surely the minister can see the difference between people who are directly affected by a planning decision and other third parties?
I recognise that point, but it has become clear to the Executive, after investigating the matter that no matter how much one might try to provide a limited third-party right of appeal, such rights of appeal would not address the key issues that people want to be solved. In addition, it is difficult to see how a third-party right of appeal could be limited in the way Mike Rumbles has described. The concern is that such a move would extend the system without improving its quality.
Does the minister agree that, in the interests of democracy and fairness, if there is to be no right of appeal for third parties, the bill should remove the right of appeal from developers?
We recognise the position that Sandra White is coming from, but we have sought to limit first-party right of appeal with legal constraints by, for example, limiting such appeals to local tribunals. We recognise people's frustration about that issue, but I contend that people feel greater frustration about the system's limited capacity to enforce the will of the planning authority at the end of the process. In my judgment, we should put our time and energy into dealing with those who ignore planning authority decisions and deter others from doing the same. There is a great deal of consensus on the importance of having a rigorous enforcement system.
Air Travel (Islands)
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on the introduction of a social aid package that will benefit Scotland's island residents by reducing the cost of air travel between Scottish islands and the mainland. (S2O-9389)
I shall announce further details of the air discount scheme later this month. We expect to have European Commission approval shortly.
It will come as no surprise to the minister that the prophets of doom on the nationalist benches have denounced the minister and all his works in respect of this fantastic aid package. Will the minister confirm that island students will be eligible for the 40 per cent reduction in the same way as all other island residents?
Mr Morrison makes a persuasive point about the position of students. We hope to make progress on that matter in the coming weeks when we are able to announce the details of how the scheme will operate in practice. I share his concern about those who are against a mechanism that will, for the first time, reduce the cost of flying from his constituency to the Scottish mainland. That is a long-held political and policy objective that we are about to deliver.
The scheme is welcome news to my constituents. When the minister announces the details of the scheme I expect that he will give details about the timeline, but will he also examine whether people who, perhaps for good reason, have had to book ahead will be eligible for the 40 per cent discount if their journey will take place after the scheme is up and running?
I can assure Mr Wallace that when we are able to announce the details once we have secured European Commission approval, we will certainly be able to provide details of the timeline of the scheme. For bookings that have already been made, it will be difficult to provide retrospective assistance. However, I will look into the matter.
I note the minister's answers. What work has the Executive done to determine the economic benefits of aid of a social character for the islands? What is the estimated economic benefit? If lower fares will not be available for tourist and business visitors, how will the aid of a social character scheme bring economic improvement to the islands?
The scheme will bring a number of advantages, including greater capacity on the routes, better scheduling and lower air fares. They will undoubtedly be strong advantages for the people who live in those areas and the economies of which they are part. I note from the press that Mr Mather is against our proposal. I also note that he is in favour of public service obligations, which would allow no competition whatsoever. Given that competition takes place on routes such as the Stornoway to Edinburgh route, the Scottish National Party seems to be against competition.
Question 6 was not lodged and question 7 was withdrawn.
Local Authorities (Education Funding)
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider providing additional financial assistance to local authorities where strategic rationalisation of schools provision is on-going in order to ease pressures on planned maintenance budgets for other schools in such areas where no rationalisation is possible. (S2O-9373)
We are already making substantial additional resources available. The well-established principle is that local authorities decide how best to use such resources to address local needs and priorities in a strategic manner.
Is the minister aware of Glasgow City Council's continuing strategic education initiatives for pre-12s, which often involve the production of innovative solutions? With the best will in the world, rationalisation and reinvestment in education provision for pre-fives, primary school children and, in some cases, children who have special needs, sometimes on shared campuses, can create pressure on other budgets. Given the council's corporate objective of ensuring council tax stability, perhaps the progress and innovation that have been achieved in Glasgow merit the allocation of additional resources.
I am well aware of the issues to which Charlie Gordon refers. The councils—especially Glasgow City Council—and the Executive share a common endeavour in seeking to make progress on early years, primary and special needs education. However, I reiterate that the Scottish Executive has provided some £2.5 billion of resources through the public-private partnership channel and has made available further money through the schools fund and the provision of access to prudential borrowing.
Energy Efficiency
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it is making in improving energy efficiency. (S2O-9347)
The Executive funds a number of programmes to improve energy efficiency that target the domestic, business and public sectors. More than 224,000 domestic dwellings have now been insulated since 1999 and overall CO2 emissions from our combined use of electricity, gas and oil have reduced by 49 per cent since 1991.
In relation to the impact of energy efficiency measures in the public sector, the Deputy First Minister will be aware from the repeated questioning by me and Mark Ruskell that people in my constituency have an appetite for energy efficiency work to be undertaken in the form of the installation of wood-fuel heating systems in new public-private partnership projects, particularly those that involve the construction of schools. There are major roadblocks and obstacles to getting different Executive departments to agree on how to proceed with such work. Will the Deputy First Minister expedite the discussions that are taking place and thereby give us some hope that the Government's energy efficiency objectives can be delivered in practice in PPP school building projects?
As John Swinney knows, I have been involved in discussions on that issue and am determined to find ways to support projects such as the one in his constituency. Similar challenges were faced in relation to the proposed new £100 million campus for Queen Margaret University College and the fact that that institution's new premises will incorporate a biomass fuel project is excellent news for Scotland. I want other demonstration projects to proceed and I realise that some Executive support will be required to ensure that they are kick-started. In time, I want such projects to be the norm in Scotland and to be self-funding, but the Executive has a role to play in working with local authorities to ensure that, for example, the school PPP project in John Swinney's constituency includes a wood-fuel heating system. If I can continue to be helpful, I will be. We want to ensure that that project goes ahead and that biomass is used in our schools in the future. That is an important priority for Scotland and for the Executive.
Question 10 is withdrawn. As all the questions have been taken, there will now be a pause of one minute until First Minister's questions.
Meeting suspended.
On resuming—
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