Flooding (Fife)
The Scottish Government spoke to local authority officials regarding flooding in Fife in the aftermath of the flooding incidents in October last year. My officials are in regular contact with officials from local authorities across Scotland via the various stakeholder groups that have been established to assist with the implementation of the Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009, as well as through the local authority Society of Chief Officers of Transportation in Scotland flood risk management group. When flooding events happen, the Scottish Government will be in contact with responders such as Fife Council to understand the nature of the impact.
I thank the minister for that answer and for the very good debate that we had on the issue just a few weeks ago. How does the minister propose to deal with the apparent intransigence of a variety of officials in Fife Council, Network Rail, Scottish Water and other organisations who appear not to be having serious regard to the repeated flooding that is affecting many residents in both private and public sector housing in Rosyth and Cowdenbeath?
I recognise the problems in Cowdenbeath. In the debate, the member mentioned that there had been two separate flood incidents in Cowdenbeath in the space of two years and that some people were affected again just as they were moving back into their properties, which was very distressing for them.
Fuel Poverty
I welcome the report and its support for the action that the Scottish Government is taking to tackle the scourge of fuel poverty—in particular, the continuation of direct Government funding to tackle fuel poverty and for energy efficiency schemes in Scotland, in contrast to the withdrawal of Government funding in England, where the United Kingdom Government’s fuel poverty programme budget has been reduced from £366 million in 2010-11 to zero in the current year.
Does the minister share my disappointment that the previous carbon emissions reduction target and community energy saving programme schemes failed to tackle fuel poverty in many rural parts of Scotland? Does she believe that the combination of Scottish Government support and the energy company obligation will be more effective in tackling the high levels of fuel poverty in Scotland’s rural areas, particularly our islands?
The Government is committed to enabling all parts of Scotland to benefit from Great Britain-wide programmes that consumers pay for through levies and bills.
If we can have shorter questions and answers, we will proceed to the end of the questions available to be called.
The minister will recall that, during the fuel poverty debate in January, I raised with her an initiative in Orkney that looked to harness renewables resources to develop a tariff targeted at fuel-poor households. She indicated that she would speak to the fuel poverty forum about how support might be provided to that initiative. Will she update the Parliament on progress in those discussions or write to me in due course?
That work is still on-going. A discussion has yet to take place, but I reassure Liam McArthur that I have not forgotten about the commitment that I made. It will be discussed at the next meeting of the fuel poverty forum.
Film and Television Industry
In recent weeks, to support film and television content development, Creative Scotland’s £4 million film and television funding programme for 2013-14 has opened for applications.
I thank the cabinet secretary for that update. She is aware of my interest in the area and my concern that Scottish producers may not be able to capitalise on the high-end tax credit that came into place on 1 April. Many regions in England, Northern Ireland and Wales now have studio complexes that allow their producers to capitalise on that tax credit. When will Scotland be able to take advantage of that provision? When can we expect to see a film studio complex, and is it likely to be in Glasgow?
We have many advantages in relation to the sector, particularly on skills, but Patricia Ferguson is right to identify our need for a film studio complex, particularly one with an effective sound studio.
Social Housing (New Homes)
The Scottish Government is committed to working in partnership with local authorities and housing associations to develop much needed, high-quality social and affordable housing. We are investing £860 million in housing supply in the current three-year period and, last year, we introduced a three-year resource planning approach, bringing the council and registered social landlord funding streams together into one budget for the first time. That approach enables each council to exercise its strategic role more flexibly.
I ask the minister to comment on the continuing Scottish Government investment in Paisley and how it is taking forward the Government’s ambitious house building plans.
We are doing all that we can to boost housing supply throughout Scotland. Despite Westminster’s cut in our capital budgets, we will deliver at least 30,000 affordable homes during this parliamentary session.
Question 5, in the name of Rhoda Grant, has not been lodged. The member has provided an explanation.
Rail Passenger Franchise
The Scottish Government welcomes all types of bids for the next ScotRail rail passenger franchise, including those from a mutual, co-operative or not-for-dividend organisation. To ensure an open and transparent procurement process, no single bid or bid type can be given greater encouragement than any other.
The Scottish Government rightly talks about promoting community benefit clauses in procurement contracts. Will the minister consider doing similarly with the tendering process for the Scottish rail passenger franchise, given that, this year, the subsidy for the franchise is rising from less than £450 million to more than £511 million? Does he not believe that that would help to secure better value for passengers and communities?
There are substantial aspects of the bidding process that will consider community benefit clauses within the franchise process. The increased amount reflects the commitment of the Scottish Government to growing rail services. A record 83 million passengers are using rail this year.
Given that such a business model would require access to bank funding, and that it would be very difficult to raise equity funding, would such a model effectively require the Scottish Government to act as a lender of last resort?
The legislation that I have mentioned specifically prohibits public sector bids, not not-for-profit bids. The member is right to say that financial backing would be required, as with the current franchise. The Government could not provide that financial backing. If that was to happen, it would only be in the event of the franchise failing and its becoming the operator of last resort, with the Government taking over the process. Any bid from any organisation would have to have financial backing; the Scottish Government could not provide that.
Housing (Tenant Deposit Schemes)
Up to the end of April this year, more than 140,000 deposits, with a total value of £89 million, had been lodged with one of the three approved tenancy deposit schemes. Those are the most up-to-date figures that are available. A comparison with the number of properties that private landlords have registered with local authorities suggests that some landlords still need to lodge deposits. The Scottish Government will continue to work with the scheme providers and other stakeholders to encourage compliance with the new law in that regard.
The minister will be aware of reports that only half of landlords registered their deposits by the deadline. Can she advise us how the scheme is being policed? What sanctions will be taken against the private landlords who have not complied with the legislation?
Private landlords have a duty to protect tenants’ deposits under one of the three schemes. If they fail to do so, a sheriff court may order the imposition of a financial penalty on the landlord of up to three times the deposit.
Waste Incineration (Health Implications)
Reviews were conducted in 2009 by the Health Protection Agency and Health Protection Scotland, which came to similar conclusions. The Health Protection Agency review concluded that the evidence suggests that
I thank the minister for his answer, but I am afraid that it will not give huge comfort to my constituents. He may be aware that one of the new studies is research by the Health Protection Agency in England on the potential links between incinerator emissions and health outcomes. Will the minister consider conducting a similar study in Scotland to look at possible health impacts of waste incineration and, in particular, technologies such as pyrolysis plants, one of which Shore Energy proposes to build in my constituency?
I understand the concerns that Elaine Smith has raised. I mentioned that we are part-funding one of the studies—both of which are UK-wide studies—that are looking at some of the health outcomes for those who live close to incinerators. If it would assist the member in informing her constituents on the matter, I would be more than happy to write to her to give more details of exactly what the areas of research are about and how they will be taken forward over the next couple of years.
Independence (Corporation Tax)
It was a recommendation of the fiscal commission working group that the Scottish Government should take forward a programme of work to identify and develop key economic and fiscal policy opportunities to deliver economic growth, resilience, fairness, opportunity and sustainability. Corporation tax would be an important lever used responsibly as part of a wider design of tax policy set to promote investment and create jobs.
Cutting taxes for big business more than the Tories is not a progressive policy. It is also a nonsense for the Government to suggest that it will increase spending on welfare and public services when, at the same time, it wants to create tax haven Scotland for big business. That is not Laffer curve economics; it is laughable economics. Is it not the case that the SNP tries to talk the language of social justice but falls down when it comes to the crunch?
I give Mr Bibby, after his considered question to me, these words, which are from one of his friends—I think he is one of his friends, although he may not be after I have read this quote:
Transport Budget (Walking and Cycling)
In the current financial year, the proportion of the transport budget that is spent on cycling and walking infrastructure will be 0.7 per cent. In addition, as part of our trunk roads programme, upgrading of cycling and walking facilities is included in each contract.
Please be brief, Ms Johnstone.
The 4,000 or so people who pedalled on Parliament on Sunday to call for increased investment in cycling were disappointed that the minister was unable to attend. Can he reassure those people, and all those who want cycling to be safe for all from eight to 80 years, that his Government is committed to increasing investment to the levels that will enable it to deliver its own commitment to 10 per cent of all journeys being made by bike by 2020?
Please be brief, minister.
We will shortly produce the cycling action plan for Scotland, which I know the member has an interest in. That will contain our plans—not the definitive last word on our plans—to ensure that we achieve those targets and to ensure that we try to increase the number of people cycling not just for recreation, which there has been a real increase in, but for commuting to work and for other purposes. We are committed to those things and I am pleased that my colleague Paul Wheelhouse was able to be there on Sunday to meet the demonstrators.