General Questions
Questions 1 and 2 were not lodged. We move to question 3. I remind members that supplementary questions are just that. I do not expect a preamble before the question, and I expect you to get to your question very quickly indeed.
Council of Economic Advisers
The Council of Economic Advisers will continue and the new council will be announced, in due course, by the First Minister.
When the Government and the Council of Economic Advisers disagree, as we know they did in the previous parliamentary session on many occasions—on energy, education and the constitution to name but three—should the council’s advice be ignored or should it be listened to and acted upon?
The Government will consider advice from many individuals and organisations in the course of its work. We set great store by the work of the Council of Economic Advisers and we consider all the recommendations that it makes to ministers. It is unlikely that any group of independent-minded individuals will produce advice that the Government can and should accept in all circumstances. The Government is elected on a series of manifesto commitments and on a political proposition to the public. It is for ministers to defend that proposition and the decisions that flow from it. Clearly, it is incumbent on us to consider carefully the recommendations and contribution of the Council of Economic Advisers, which are warmly appreciated by the First Minister, me and other ministers.
Suicide Prevention (Glasgow)
Under the concordat that was drawn up in 2007 between the Scottish Government and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, funding for local suicide prevention action in all local authorities, including Glasgow, is drawn from the overall funding that is provided to local authorities. Decisions on local spending priorities are the responsibility of individual local authorities in light of local need and circumstances.
The information from mental health charities that are working in Glasgow indicates that that funding has been significantly reduced, particularly in the past 12 months. How will the Government meet the health improvement, efficiency, access and treatment targets on suicide reduction by 2013 if Glasgow City Council is not supporting the charities, particularly given the disproportionately high rate of suicide in Glasgow?
Each of the 32 local authorities in Scotland has a tailored suicide prevention action plan, which sits alongside the choose life action plan that was launched by the Government back in 2002. The intention behind the strategy is to reduce overall suicide levels in Scotland by 20 per cent. To date, suicide levels have been reduced by 11.5 per cent and progress continues to be made. It is important that local authorities such as Glasgow City Council work in partnership with our colleagues in NHS Health Scotland to make the national strategy and local suicide prevention plans work together.
Following the seminar on the identification of suicide clusters and the reporting of suicide in old and new media, which was held jointly by Samaritans and the University of Edinburgh in the Scottish Parliament on 1 June, what discussions will the minister initiate with Scotland’s media to ensure responsible reporting of suicide, which would help to prevent further tragedies by minimising the likelihood of copycat suicides?
I was able to go along to that seminar for a short period and to hear some of the evidence that is being gathered from around the world on copycat suicides that take place on the back of what can only be described as irresponsible reporting by some media outlets. I encourage the media in Scotland to continue to act in a responsible way to ensure that we do not encourage such behaviour, and I would be more than happy to work with the researchers at the University of Edinburgh and with Samaritans on how we can improve the situation in Scotland by further reducing the number of suicides that occur here.
Rail Services (Edinburgh and Berwick-upon-Tweed)
A study examining the opportunities for service enhancements across the wider Edinburgh to Newcastle corridor is on-going and should be finalised later this summer. It includes investigation of the case for local services between Edinburgh and Berwick-upon-Tweed. When the study is completed, it will be published on the Transport Scotland website.
I must declare an interest, as a member of Rail Action Group East of Scotland.
The report is in its final stages and a process is under way between Transport Scotland and MVA Consultancy to sort out some final issues. That process should take place fairly quickly, but I cannot be more specific than to say that the report will be finalised over the course of the summer. Once it has been concluded and published, I would be more than happy to meet the local member and others who have an interest in the project.
I work very closely with RAGES, which campaigns for the re-establishment of local train services and the reopening of Reston station. Although RAGES has always welcomed the positive noises from the Scottish National Party Government on the project, it would like to see more concrete action and progress. Does the minister believe that Reston station will be reopened by the end of the parliamentary session in 2016?
It would be extremely foolish of me to say that in advance of receiving the report, the delay in the production of which has been caused, not least, as a knock-on result of Network Rail’s production of the east coast franchise timetable. We are moving ahead on the issue quickly. We would like to see the best possible services being provided in that part of the country, but we must wait to find out what the report says. There is not too long to wait. As I said, as soon as it has been published, I will be happy to meet the member to discuss it further.
Ninewells Hospital
The cabinet secretary referred to the extremely disappointing follow-up report that the HEI carried out in April. It identified failings on cleanliness in Ninewells hospital, which had been raised in an inspection six months previously and had not been dealt with adequately. The microbiologist Professor Hugh Pennington has proposed that hit teams be set up to ensure that inspections are properly followed up. Will the cabinet secretary consider that proposal?
As I am sure Murdo Fraser knows, there is a process in place to ensure that any recommendations that are made in reports by the HEI are followed up and that action plans are agreed by the relevant board and the inspectorate. Indeed, the report that he rightly draws attention to was a follow-up report—it was produced as a result of the inspectorate going back in to ensure that previous recommendations had been implemented.
I accept those comments, but I want to press the cabinet secretary a little further. The problem is one of repeated failure—that is not a criticism of the inspectorate. Professor Hugh Pennington says that we must have a much more proactive approach. Will the cabinet secretary at least consider the possibility of having, in addition to the HEI, a hit team that can go in to manage a situation when there has been repeated failure in a hospital?
I did not take anything that Murdo Fraser or Richard Simpson said as a criticism of the inspectorate, which I think has shown its worth since its establishment. I hope that members across the chamber know that on this issue, in particular, I am open to others’ ideas and will always give those ideas due consideration. However, I emphasise that the process that takes place after the HEI issues a report is not a passive one. There is already a system in place to ensure that recommendations are followed up and that scrutiny is applied to ensure that improvements have happened, but I will continue to consider all reasonable and sensible suggestions about how we can further strengthen that system and ensure that we have the best possible regime in place.
Wind Turbines (Local Agreement)
Planning modernisation has introduced enhanced opportunities for people to get involved at earlier stages in the planning process, and recent online planning advice for onshore wind has reaffirmed that role.
In the context of local engagement, would it not be helpful to clarify further the guidelines on where wind farms should be sited, how cumulative impact should be addressed and what contribution each area of the country is expected to make to a national target for onshore wind power?
Our planning guidelines on wind farms are set out clearly in Scottish Planning Policy, which is supplemented by online planning advice. The online planning advice, which was launched only in February this year, includes advice on how to prepare spatial frameworks for large-scale onshore wind farms and advice on onshore wind, which deals with detailed siting matters for turbines. It suggests that securing support from local communities ought to be an area of focus for planning authorities. If Adam Ingram has ideas on how that advice could be supplemented, he should feel free to write to me and my office.
Some wind farm developers offer to buy a property that will be affected by a development but are willing to pay only part of the price agreed, with the balance being paid only if they get planning permission. Does the minister agree that it may be worth while looking at a formula to ensure that developers pay home owners fair compensation in situations in which property values are adversely affected by the close proximity of a wind farm development?
As I said in reply to Adam Ingram, the online advice can be supplemented. If Dave Thompson wishes to discuss those points with me, he should feel free to write to me and I will look at the issues that he has raised.
Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Council
Prior to the election, ministers wrote to the principal of every college in Scotland to seek an assurance that they would not make any compulsory redundancies. Nearly all colleges have now given a commitment that they will seek to avoid such a step unless as a last resort, with at least seven going further and giving an absolute guarantee. Colleges have also agreed to maintain the same level of activity as in 2010-11 in the forthcoming academic year.
The dictionary definition of “compulsory” is “required; mandatory or obligatory”. The definition of “voluntary” is:
The member will be aware that colleges are independent institutions. I am happy to meet him about the individuals that he mentions, but I stress that ministers have no power to direct colleges on such matters, because such powers as we had were taken away by the previous Labour Government in 2006.
Without pre-empting the detail of the green paper on reform of the governance of the college sector that was committed to in the Scottish National Party manifesto, will the minister say what improvements in accountability learners and staff can expect from any changes and whether he foresees an effect on senior management decision making in colleges?
The Government has already made it clear that we will take a comprehensive look at college sector governance. The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning plans to say more about that next week when he makes a statement to the Parliament on 29 June. However, I understand the concern and disquiet that has resulted from college management decisions to implement a reduced budget for the 2011-12 academic year. I take seriously the concerns that some members of staff and students have raised. Only yesterday, I met a member of staff from Edinburgh’s Telford College who had such concerns. The Government intends to listen closely to all those views and particularly to those who call for improvements to the democratic accountability of college governance arrangements.
Integrated Transport (Scottish Borders Council)
The reinstatement of the Borders railway will facilitate an integrated transport network in the Borders area, improving social inclusion and community accessibility. Transport Scotland currently meets with the Waverley railway partnership, of which Scottish Borders Council is the lead authority, on a monthly basis to discuss project matters. That is in addition to specific meetings on the various workstreams and quarterly joint committee meetings that are attended by Transport Scotland and all three partnership authorities.
I am sure that the minister will be aware that several bus routes in the Borders are under threat, and he will know that there are growing concerns about the viability of the railway to Galashiels. Does he accept that unless there is an integrated transport network serving all parts of the Borders, fewer passengers will be able to access train services on the Galashiels railway, therefore further undermining its viability?
The member will know that the Scottish Government remains absolutely committed to the Borders railway and has made substantial progress already.
Planning (Community Involvement)
“Scottish Planning Policy”, which was published in February 2010, recognises that effective engagement with the public can lead to better plans and decisions and more satisfactory outcomes, and can help to avoid delays in the planning process.
Is the minister aware that there is concern in my constituency regarding the potential development of an area that is known as the Dreghorn polo fields? A number of community groups wish to acquire the land to manage it for the benefit of the community. Does the minister agree that communities should be involved in planning decisions, especially those involving the removal of recreational spaces in a community?
As the member will be aware, the proposal that he mentioned is currently before ministers on appeal against the council’s decision. It would therefore be inappropriate for me to comment on the particulars of the case. I agree with Gordon MacDonald that communities should be involved in the planning process. Community engagement is reflected in all aspects of the planning system.