SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE
Justice and Law Officers
Road Traffic Accidents (Grampian)
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures the Justice Department is taking to help to address the level of road traffic accidents in Moray and across the Grampian area. (S2O-11161)
The Scottish Executive and Transport Scotland are represented on the north east safety camera partnership, which aims to reduce speed-related accidents in Moray and Grampian. Transport Scotland investigates accidents on trunk roads in the area and implements route accident reduction plans. For instance, a study was commenced on the A96 early in 2005, with the final phase due for completion in 2007. The Scottish Executive works closely with a number of road safety organisations in the area, including the police and the local authorities, on road safety related issues including safety awareness.
The minister may be aware that there have been 49 fatal collisions on the roads of Grampian this year so far, resulting in 55 fatalities, and that, over the past two or three weeks, most of the fatalities that have occurred have either been in my constituency of Moray or involved my constituents. I ask her to consider how we can promote road safety in Grampian. Will she indicate what measures could be taken to review the legislative tools that are available to the police? After all, they can take the keys off drivers who do not have proper paperwork, yet they cannot take the keys off dangerous drivers or newly qualified drivers who have been driving too fast.
The member raised specific points about dealing with driving offences, taking away people's keys and so on, but those are clearly reserved matters. I am sure that representations are already being made at Westminster—people keep these matters under review. A great deal can be done at a Scottish level in the way of education, enforcement and practical measures, including engineering as it relates to road safety.
Reoffending
To ask the Scottish Executive what the most recent reoffending figures are for people given (a) prison sentences, (b) community service orders and (c) drug treatment and testing orders. (S2O-11169)
The most recent figures for 2002-03 show that 64 per cent of prisoners and 42 per cent of people on community service orders were reconvicted within two years. Comparable figures are not yet available for people given drug treatment and testing orders, but an independent study of the Glasgow and Fife pilot programmes showed a reconviction rate of around 50 per cent for those who completed their orders. Those rates are unacceptably high and they show why we are making tackling reoffending a priority.
Does the minister agree that we should consider the further use of alternatives to custody for punishing and rehabilitating offenders where appropriate? Providing a robust, cost-effective alternative to custodial sentences would help to reduce the strain on our overcrowded prisons.
Yes. It is important that a range of non-custodial options is available. We need to have the right sentences and the right resources in place to back up those options. We now have a wider range of community options than many other jurisdictions do. We should recognise that any sentence must include elements of both punishment and rehabilitation. It is right and proper that, when people who commit serious crimes are given a custodial sentence, they actually carry out that sentence.
All members are concerned about recidivism rates in Scotland. Does the minister agree that the new community justice authorities provide a good way forward in ensuring that we get a properly integrated criminal justice system that is not just about punishment, but about rehabilitation?
Scott Barrie makes a valid point. We introduced the Management of Offenders etc (Scotland) Act 2005 to set up the new community justice authorities, of which there will be eight across Scotland. They will assume their full powers from April next year and will ensure that a joined-up approach is taken by the Scottish Prison Service, local authorities and other agencies to provide the range of responses that are needed to tackle the problem of reoffending.
Knife Crime Reduction
To ask the Scottish Executive how the latest knife crime campaign will reduce violence in communities across Scotland. (S2O-11204)
The hard-hitting campaign that I launched last week is intended to challenge the long-standing attitudes and behaviours that contribute to knife carrying in parts of Scotland. It makes it clear that everyone has a part to play if we are to rid Scotland of knife crime once and for all, and it builds on a raft of tough enforcement action, new laws and revised prosecution guidelines. That is direct and effective action against knives across the whole criminal justice system.
I welcome the progress that we are making. I ask the minister to join me in welcoming the 10 per cent fall in overall recorded crime in Dundee over the past year. Does she agree that, to get the anti-violence message across to the whole community, the campaign should be promoted across portfolios; that the partners, friends and parents of those who carry knives also need to be targeted; and that the anti-violence message must be actively promoted in our schools?
I welcome the fact that there has been a reduction in overall crime in the area that Marlyn Glen represents. However, that does not mean that we can be in any way complacent. We must continue the efforts that we have made to bring down the crime figures even further.
Will the minister oblige me and inform the First Minister that I am not quite so enchanted with the Scottish justice system as he suggested this morning?
I will pass on Mr Gallie's comments to the First Minister, making it clear that I do not share Mr Gallie's view. The First Minister will be pleased to hear that.
Drug and Drink Driving
To ask the Scottish Executive what analysis has been made of drug and drink driving offences recorded in Fife and nationwide in 2005-06 compared with the previous year. (S2O-11175)
Figures for 2005-06 show that the number of drug and drink driving offences in Fife rose by nearly 13 per cent, an increase of 85 offences. At the Scottish level, the total number of offences increased by 2 per cent. Last year's rise in Fife, however, came after a 20 per cent fall the year before.
I welcome the minister's answer and also welcome her to her new post.
Iain Smith is right. Any needless death caused by a drink-related incident is much to be regretted, and it is a challenge to understand why on earth anyone would want to get behind the wheel of a car when they have alcohol in their bloodstream. We also face the challenge of getting the message across that drink-driving is unacceptable. People need to be confronted with and understand the possible consequences of such action. It is shocking that one in seven road deaths is alcohol related.
Does the minister agree that it is totally unsatisfactory that the information that is currently available from the Executive on the number of convictions or arrests for drink or drug driving makes it impossible to determine how many people have been convicted or arrested for either drink-driving or drug-driving as separate offences? Will she take steps to make sure that that information is made available?
My understanding is that both offences fall within the same charge. A driver has a clear responsibility not to drive when they have been drinking or are under the influence of drugs—the charge remains the same, and the consequences can be as serious in either case. Perhaps in the past people have been less aware of and have not thought so seriously about drug driving. It is understandable that the two offences have been brought together, and we have to confront people with their responsibility not to go on to the roads in a state that makes their car a lethal weapon.
What progress has been made in providing the police with roadside drug-testing kits? When are the kits likely to be in the hands of road traffic officers so that they can tackle what is, as everyone agrees, a growing problem?
As I understand it, the police already have equipment to test for drugs. I will get more information on that and see that Mr Maxwell gets a detailed response about exactly what is available to police forces.
I am sure that Fife is no different to any other area of Scotland in having people who disregard the effect that they might have on others. Does the minister agree that it is not just at Christmas and new year but throughout the year that we have to get the message over to the people of Scotland that it is unacceptable to drink and drive? What other steps could be taken to reinforce that message every month of the year?
The festive season certainly provides the opportunity to raise the matter again. The danger is that we might begin to think that we have cracked this one, and we have to move against any complacency. We often hear people saying that we have made drink-driving unacceptable so we can move on to other issues. I am not sure that, unless we are entirely vigilant, there will not be drifting.
Youth Justice
To ask the Scottish Executive to what extent the Minister for Justice will support the implementation of "More Choices, More Chances: A Strategy to Reduce the Proportion of Young People not in Education, Employment or Training in Scotland" in respect of the provision of youth justice services and how the impact of that support will be measured over time. (S2O-11140)
I fully support the implementation of "More Choices, More Chances" and my officials and I will be closely involved in taking the work forward.
The core group members are listed in the document and it is apparent at first glance that none of them has an obvious justice remit. Will the minister consider seconding to the group someone with a justice remit to add balance to the membership of the group?
It is important that the strategy is not seen as sitting in just one portfolio. Just as we are trying to get the message across that responsibility for changing antisocial behaviour in any form belongs to a wide range of different agencies working together, it is important to make it clear that everybody has a responsibility to try to ensure that young people who are not in education, employment or training get the support that they need.
Question 6 was not lodged.
Anti-racism Legislation
To ask the Scottish Executive how the police and procurator fiscal service ensure that anti-racism legislation is applied equally inside and outside sporting arenas. (S2O-11163)
Policing in and around sporting arenas is the operational responsibility of chief constables. They follow the Lord Advocate's guidelines on the investigation and reporting of racist crime, which require them to investigate fully all racist incidents, regardless of the locus. Where sufficient evidence exists, racist incidents are reported to the procurator fiscal.
I thank the Lord Advocate for her full and considered reply. I have no wish to see the long arm of the law move into sporting arenas because I believe that sporting bodies should promote anti-racism inside their arenas and among their players. However, my plea that the matter should be looked at to find out how the legislation works in practice arises from the case of my constituent Dan Gerrard, who was racially abused—the abuse was heard by witnesses. Unfortunately, the Scottish Football Association declined to pursue the matter further on this occasion. I would be most grateful if I could supply the Lord Advocate with the full details so that she might give me a considered opinion on the case.
It would be inappropriate to comment in this forum on the circumstances of any individual incident, as I am sure Margo MacDonald understands. However, although the policing of sporting events is primarily a matter for the referee and the sporting organisations involved, the Lord Advocate's guidelines on incidents that take place during sport are well known to those involved in such matters, as, indeed, are the Lord Advocate's guidelines on racist incidents. It is open to any person who is a victim of or a witness to such a crime at a sporting event to report the matter directly to the police or the procurator fiscal. If Margo MacDonald wishes to write to me directly about the matter, I will be happy to pass the information to the procurator fiscal within whose jurisdiction the allegation has arisen.
As a former player for Spartans Football Club, I support everything that Margo MacDonald said. It is a national scandal that the Scottish football authorities turned a blind eye to anti-Irish racism in Scottish football for many years. It was not until UEFA took action that certain people were brought to their senses.
I understand that the issue of sectarianism is currently being discussed and it is clearly a matter of major concern—any racist or sectarian criminal conduct is a matter of concern to any prosecutor and any citizen in Scotland.
Enterprise, Lifelong Learning and Transport
Economic Success <br />(Manufacturing and Service Sectors)
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to build on the economic success of businesses across Scotland, in particular within the manufacturing and service sectors. (S2O-11208)
Scottish ministers support and robustly promote the economic successes of businesses in Scotland. Through the enterprise networks, we work to provide a comprehensive and flexible range of support to business across Scotland, including to businesses in the manufacturing and service sectors.
In my area, the shipyard is a major manufacturing facility. It is doing extremely well in terms of both orders and an increased workforce. Of course, that depends on our links with the United Kingdom Government and it is a matter of common sense that the yard will survive only if that link is maintained. In the meantime, will the minister confirm that there are constant and continuing links between the Scottish Executive Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning Department and the appropriate UK department to ensure that the yard's progress and prosperity are maintained and advanced?
Yes, there are. That is one of the reasons why the Clyde is well placed to continue to win new defence orders. Scottish ministers meet the Department of Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Defence regularly to ensure that Scotland's role is fully represented. BAE Systems recently accepted a £4.1 million regional selective assistance grant towards an £18.5 million new investment programme to modernise its Scotstoun and Govan yards. The project is expected to create some 400 jobs and safeguard a further 200. As the member correctly says, the Scottish National Party's plans to declare the rest of the UK a foreign country would not allow Govan and Scotstoun to win orders from the UK Ministry of Defence.
I would like to thank the minister for those answers, but it would be disingenuous if I did so.
What we will not do is vote for a third-party right of appeal, which is what Jim Mather's Scottish National Party colleagues did. As we well know, Jim Mather said that he would not promote that policy.
Why?
Because the companies concerned have international opportunities and they consider other locations. Just this week, the company that announced 500 new jobs in Glasgow said that it had considered locating in Singapore, eastern Europe and Dublin, but had decided to come to Scotland. The SNP regarded that as bad news.
The Scottish Executive's small business rate relief scheme has been a tremendous success throughout Scotland. Will the minister consider improving the scheme even more? The smallest businesses get a 50 per cent rate reduction. Would it be advantageous to increase that reduction?
I am always anxious to find competitive advantage for business in Scotland. As Mike Rumbles knows, we have already taken steps to reduce business rates in Scotland to bring them into line with business rates in England. We are committed to a further reduction to ensure that they will be in line with business rates in England from April next year. We will consider carefully Mike Rumbles's suggestion before the Minister for Finance and Public Service Reform makes the announcement on such matters in due course.
Does the minister acknowledge the tremendous success of British Energy as a major electricity generator in Scotland? Will he comment on those political parties that would deny British Energy the opportunity to invest in new nuclear plant in Scotland?
As John Home Robertson knows, the Executive is committed to a policy of no new nuclear power in Scotland unless the issue of nuclear waste is properly resolved. I regularly meet British Energy officials, including its chief executive, and we always have constructive discussions.
Redundancies (Young's Bluecrest Ltd)
To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance it can offer to the 120 people to be made redundant by Young's Bluecrest in Annan. (S2O-11223)
Should those job losses occur following the consultation period, our immediate priority will be to provide support and assistance for those people who face redundancy. That will be provided through the Executive's PACE—partnership action for continuing employment—framework. The support will be tailored to meet individual needs and local circumstances and will include Jobcentre Plus services, one-to-one counselling and advice, comprehensive information packs and access to high-quality training.
Is the minister aware that later last week Penman Engineering in Dumfries announced the loss of 47 jobs; that just last month 46 jobs were lost at Interfloor in Dumfries; and that uncertainty still surrounds the future of the Hunter Rubber Company, which is also in Dumfries? Does he support the Transport and General Workers Union's campaign to save the jobs in Annan and does he agree that, although Scotland is outperforming the rest of the United Kingdom on employment, Dumfries and Galloway requires specific assistance in the face of the loss of the jobs in the manufacturing sector to which I referred?
One of the reasons why we have regional selective assistance as a locational premium is that, unlike the nationalists, we understand that economic performance will vary in different parts of the country, so it is important to provide incentives for economic development and economic growth in different parts of the country and to respond to the issue in a variety of ways.
I suggest to the minister that one way of discouraging the type of trading that has led to the problem at Young's is to encourage the use of labelling that sets out clearly a product's geographical origin and ensures that any product that has been to Thailand and back cannot be described as Scottish seafood. What steps can the minister take to encourage such labelling?
I am in favour of the member's general suggestion, which would protect the geographical status of the product concerned and ensure that consumers get what they think they have paid for. I point out that we make grants totalling £45 million available to local food producers to ensure that the local supply chain is supported.
A725 Bellshill Bypass
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made towards addressing traffic congestion on the A725 Bellshill bypass. (S2O-11216)
We are committed to spending £200 million on upgrading the A8 between Baillieston and Newhouse to motorway standard and improving the associated trunk road network. That work, which is expected to improve general traffic flows in the area, will commence in 2009. Transport Scotland is working with the owners and tenants of Strathclyde business park to improve access to and from the park.
Although the upgrading of the A8 to motorway standard between Baillieston and Newhouse is welcome, the three-year delay in commencing the works means that, because of the situation on the Bellshill bypass, major employers are reconsidering future investment and might well even decide to locate elsewhere. After all, their staff spend two hours trying to exit Strathclyde business park on to the bypass. Is the minister able to assure us that an interim proposal to address the congestion on the A725 at Strathclyde business park will be vigorously promoted among his officials to ensure that a solution can be found to this very serious problem?
As Michael McMahon knows, we are considering possible solutions in the area, but any solution must achieve the objective that he and I share of cutting down peak-time traffic congestion. The traffic modelling that has been carried out, which Mr McMahon knows about and which has been shared with the owners and operators of the park, has not been helpful in that regard. A number of meetings have been held to discuss how best to move things forward and to reanalyse the situation to find out whether specific short-term measures could improve traffic movement in the area. We will continue to discuss the matter and I am happy to keep the member up to date with progress.
Broadband
To ask the Scottish Executive what technology solutions it is considering to ensure that broadband can be delivered to locations that are currently out of reach. (S2O-11145)
We have delivered broadband access for every Scottish community. However, because we want to go even further, we have been working with independent consultants to examine all technical solutions—including wireless and satellite solutions and the scope for making further improvements to the existing ADSL network—that might be able to deliver broadband to areas where access issues persist. That complex work is almost complete and I will set out our conclusions shortly.
In the technology assessment that the Executive is undertaking, has the minister come across the work of a company in my constituency, Remote Data Services Ltd, which has pioneered a kind of mesh technology that allows broadband to reach isolated hill and glen areas? If not, will he ask his officials to consider it? Finally, can he define what "shortly" means with regard to the publication of his long-awaited review?
I thank John Swinney for that question and, indeed, commend him for all the work that he carries out on this matter on behalf of his constituents. I know that he is anxious to see significant progress on the roll-out of further broadband opportunities, particularly in rural Scotland.
I thank the minister for the information that he has given. Does he accept that businesspeople in, for example, the Black Isle feel enormous frustration? Broadband and the Dingwall exchange are impossible to access because, it seems, of the quality of the copper wiring.
Rolling out broadband to every community in Scotland, with the support of Government, has been a significant achievement. We now want to build on that work and try to get broadband access to as many as possible of the individual businesses and houses that are isolated from the broadband network. That is a high priority for me, which is why I will take action on the report as quickly as possible.
The minister will know that I have written to him about the problems for tourism businesses in remote rural areas that cannot access broadband, which are at a competitive disadvantage because so many bookings are now made over the internet. Therefore, I was interested in and pleased to hear what he said. Will he give comfort to those businesses on when the broadband programme might be rolled out, so that their competitive disadvantage can come to an end?
I understand and agree with Murdo Fraser's point. When we are setting priorities for action, it will be important that we consider business needs as well as the needs of individual households and domestic premises. I will ask my officials to ensure that business needs are key factors in our considerations, in particular the needs of the tourism sector.
My question follows on from Murdo Fraser's question. The minister will know that, for many high-tech businesses such as those in Glenrothes in my constituency, and for members of their staff who want to work flexibly from home, the ability to transfer large amounts of complex data quickly is important. Is the minister in discussion with providers on upgrading broadband facilities to enable such data transfers?
We are in regular discussion with a range of providers. However, it is important that we await the recommendations from the consultants and then think about the potential solutions—for the groupings and clusters that can be brought together, and for the priority businesses that require action. We will then be able to consider who might best be able to fulfil those needs by offering the best technology and the most competitive pricing.
Proposed Energy Technologies Institute
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the United Kingdom Government regarding its proposal for an energy technologies institute. (S2O-11170)
I have written to the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to express my full support for a strong Scottish lead in the energy technologies institute.
I am pleased to hear that, as we have home-grown expertise that could contribute and lead in developing energy technologies for the future. Will the minister pay particular attention to my constituency of Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, which has had a long relationship with energy generation? I am keen for the talent in my constituency to make a contribution to the institute, as a knowledge resource and in providing a site.
I will ensure that that is part of the Scottish approach and bid on the matter. As Jamie Stone knows, we have significant energy strengths throughout Scotland. Aberdeen is the energy capital of Europe and is anxious to secure the institute headquarters, where the director will be located. Other parts of Scotland are anxious to develop their strengths in the energy sector. For example, the University of Strathclyde, the University of St Andrews and Heriot-Watt University all undertake major energy-research activities. That is why I am so pleased that areas throughout Scotland are working together on the issue. I will promote that co-operative approach, which is likely to be successful.
While recognising the research links between Dounreay and the University of Aberdeen, does the Deputy First Minister agree that, although the Executive is right to focus on ensuring that all Scottish institutions benefit from the initiative, basing the institute in Aberdeen would benefit Scotland as a whole? Does he agree with the Confederation of British Industry Scotland and the United Kingdom Offshore Operators Association that, as Europe's energy capital, Aberdeen is the natural place to situate the new institute?
In short, yes. It is important that Scotland's case emphasises the strengths of Aberdeen. It is great to see support from the CBI and other sources, including UKOOA. It is vital that the Scottish ministers and all members in the Parliament give the bid from Aberdeen and from Scotland the best opportunity of success.
I am glad to hear that comment from the minister. Will he spell out a bit more about the discussions that have taken place with academic institutions in Scotland on the bid? Can he say whether a potential director has been identified, as that appears to be a key part of the Department of Trade and Industry's case?
It is important to emphasise that the Executive has been heavily involved in meetings with universities and industry on the issue in Scotland and attended the DTI briefing event on the issue, which took place on 11 October. Following the creation of the institute's board by the end of this year, the director is to be appointed in January 2007. I agree with Brian Adam that the discussions about where the director will be based are vital. We need to prepare a strong case for that.