Concessionary Fare Scheme (Edinburgh Trams)
The matter is under consideration and we will announce our decision shortly.
Surely,
Of course I am more than happy to listen to Kezia Dugdale and I certainly would not disagree with her view about the trams being very expensive.
I call Marco Biagi, who has a supplementary question.
Presiding Officer, I am sorry I did not hear you over the fanfare.
Marco Biagi raises a very good point. The power could be used not just in the instance that he mentioned but by SPT, which I referred to previously. The City of Edinburgh Council can of course apply a subsidy or support.
First World War (Centenary)
As I told Parliament in November, the Scottish Government is working with a range of organisations on proposals to commemorate the centenary of the conflict. Today I can announce that I have appointed Norman Drummond to lead our commemorative programme. Mr Drummond has served as a chaplain in the Parachute Regiment and the Black Watch. He is currently chaplain to Her Majesty the Queen in Scotland. He founded Columba 1400, which is a highly regarded education leadership programme on the Isle of Skye that seeks to maximise the potential of young people. He was previously a BBC national governor for Scotland and he brings with him considerable expertise and leadership ability. He will chair the Scottish commemorative panel. I will announce details of the panel and further plans for our commemorations in due course.
I ask for order in the chamber, please.
I thank the minister for her response. I draw her attention to the fact that this year is the centenary of the Montrose airfield, which played an enormous part in training Royal Air Force pilots through the first war and, indeed, through the second. Does the Government have any plans to ensure that help is available for places such as Montrose airfield so that we can commemorate their importance and significance in the first war and beyond?
The impact of the first world war was felt extensively across Scotland. Clearly, there will be commemorations in every village, town and community during 2014 to 2018.
NHS Borders
Scottish Government ministers and officials communicate regularly with all health boards, including NHS Borders. I met national health service board chairs, including the chair of NHS Borders on 14 January. We discussed Scottish Government priorities for the national health service and matters concerning the health of the population.
Other than meetings, what discussions has the cabinet secretary had about the delivery of paediatric services in the Borders general hospital? It would be detrimental to my constituents if they had to travel to Edinburgh for children’s services.
The Scottish Government has been in regular contact with all boards in the south-east region—which, of course, includes the Borders area—about the delivery of their paediatric services. All boards have assured us that they are fully committed to maintaining 24/7 paediatric services.
What interim arrangements will there be? I understand that, in NHS Borders and other parts of the south-east and Tayside, the Scottish Government has required the boards to introduce plans to move to a non-training-grade workforce by August. Will the cabinet secretary assure us that families in the Borders will have sufficient out-of-hours paediatric and neonatal care in the meantime?
Absolutely. As I said in my answer to Christine Grahame, 24/7 cover is essential at all times. The Government and the boards are determined to ensure that that continues.
Hospital Transport (Care Home Patients)
There is no specific guidance or protocol for residents of care homes who are assessed as ready for discharge from accident and emergency departments at night. Each case is treated according to the circumstances, such as the availability of family and carer support, as well as specialist patient transport. No vulnerable patient should be discharged without adequate arrangements for onward transport being in place.
Is it worth developing guidelines and distributing them to care homes?
I agree that it would be helpful to develop guidelines with and for all interested parties to ensure that vulnerable patients who are discharged from accident and emergency late at night are given safe passage to their place of residence, be that a care home or a private dwelling. We will be taking that agenda forward.
Scottish Court Service (Meetings)
I met the then interim chief executive of the Scottish Court Service, Eric McQueen, on 14 November 2012. We discussed a number of current civil and criminal justice policy issues. I am due to meet the Lord President, who is chair of the SCS board, this Friday. The chief executive of the Scottish Court Service will also be present. Officials from the Scottish Government are, of course, in regular contact with officials of the Scottish Court Service on a range of issues.
The cabinet secretary will be aware that the Scottish Court Service has proposed the closure of Duns sheriff court and justice of the peace court in my constituency, as well as the closure of neighbouring Peebles and Haddington sheriff courts. If the closure of the Duns court goes ahead, victims and witnesses will have to travel 30 miles to Jedburgh, which is a journey of almost two hours by public transport. Does the cabinet secretary share my concern that the proposals will place great strain on existing stretched court services, which will seriously harm access to justice and cause further delay to cases?
I am aware of the member’s concerns, about which he has been in contact; doubtless, he contributed them to the SCS consultation, which has now closed. Clearly, the Lord President and the chief executive will consider the factor to which the member refers. Matters such as public transport arrangements and the number of people involved have been looked at. The Scottish Court Service will have to weigh up such factors before it is required to make its final decision.
When the cabinet secretary met the Scottish Court Service, did it raise with him cuts to the Procurator Fiscal Service and the closure of courts and the resultant lack of court time? If it did so, what was his response?
Responsibility for the Procurator Fiscal Service lies with the Lord Advocate and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service. The service is entirely separate from my jurisdiction and, indeed, that of the Lord President, so I do not think that it would have been appropriate to raise that matter with him.
Scottish Household Survey (Volunteering)
The Scottish household survey captures the percentage of adults in Scotland who volunteer in a formal way. We know that many people also volunteer in an informal way through helping friends or neighbours. In reality, the percentage of people who volunteer will be higher than the survey suggests.
I am delighted to hear that the figure may be even higher. In the past year, we have had very successful volunteering around the Olympic games. The 2014 Commonwealth games will soon start recruiting its team of volunteers. What lessons can Scotland learn from the volunteering practices of the Olympic games and how can that serve to encourage others to involve themselves in volunteering at community level in general?
On the specific point around the lessons learned from the London 2012 experience, the 2014 organising committee has worked closely with the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games to learn lessons from the London experience. That has flowed through into the opening of the volunteer recruitment programme for the Glasgow games in 2014, which has got off to a really good start in terms of the interest and involvement of members of the public. Clearly, we would encourage more individuals to volunteer for the Commonwealth games, which will be a tremendously exciting and dynamic opportunity for volunteering, as were the London games.
I and some other members of the Scottish Parliament have volunteered to be volunteers at the Commonwealth games. Will the cabinet secretary join me in encouraging employers to help folk to attend training for being volunteers for the wonderful opportunity in 2014?
I certainly echo those sentiments. I can confirm that the Scottish Government has amended its staff special leave policy to allow staff to take up to five days special leave to volunteer at the games. Although it is not within my province, I understand that the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body has taken a similar decision. The games are such a unique opportunity for Glasgow and the people of Scotland that a positive response from employers would be very welcome. From my experience of encountering volunteers who participated in the London games, I know that it was clearly a landmark occasion in their lives. I encourage employers to make volunteering for the Commonwealth games possible and practical for members of their staff in Scotland.
Welfare Reform (Housing Benefit)
The introduction of underoccupancy deductions, or the bedroom tax, will reduce housing benefit income for social landlords by an estimated £60 million to £65 million annually. I am obviously concerned about the impact on Scotland’s most vulnerable children and families. An estimated 105,000 households in the social sector will lose an average of £600 a year. The Scottish Government has been consistent and very clear in our opposition to this United Kingdom Government reform.
With reference to the impact on families, a report went to last week’s meeting of Aberdeen City Council’s housing and environment committee on the impact on kinship carers. Regarding underoccupancy, the report states:
I welcome the report that Mark McDonald cited. It certainly shows the damaging nature of the sweeping reforms by the Department for Work and Pensions and the fact that they simply do not take account of the impact on our most vulnerable families.
Question 8 has been withdrawn for understandable reasons.
Access to Culture (North Glasgow)
The Scottish Government is committed to widening opportunities for everyone to access, engage in and benefit from cultural activity. The Village Storytelling Centre in Glasgow, for example, received funding as part of the year of creative Scotland so that it could work with young carers in the wider Glasgow and west of Scotland area, including in Maryhill, through its creative sparks project.
I am delighted to hear of the progress that is being made, particularly in connection with 2014. However, the cabinet secretary might be aware that there is a mood within north Glasgow that suggests that a Sistema Scotland project would be welcome in the area, and there have been some preliminary talks and discussions with the organisation about how that might be facilitated. Would the Scottish Government support that and, if it would, in what way?
I was delighted that the Scottish Government was able to support the expansion of Sistema Scotland into Glasgow and Govanhill in particular. I am sure that all members will congratulate the organisation on that. However, the funding that we provided is not just for Govanhill. It is actually about how Sistema Scotland could expand the big noise orchestras progressively across future years.
I will take question 10, but I need very brief questions and answers.
Child Trafficking
The figures that were released by Barnardo’s relate to children within its services who indicated that they had been trafficked for the purposes of sexual exploitation. The national referral mechanism collates United Kingdom data on suspected and confirmed cases of trafficking. The gathering of accurate, reliable data on this clandestine activity is complex and difficult. For that reason, we recently commissioned the University of Bedfordshire to research the scale and nature of child sexual exploitation in Scotland and how child trafficking relates to that.
Very briefly, Jenny Marra.
Does the cabinet secretary agree that a review of the legislation in Scotland is required as the crime of human trafficking is not clearly provided for in Scots law, with current provisions straddling two acts, and that, if detection is to increase, police need a clearly defined—
I am sorry. You need to conclude your question.
—crime to work to?
We have indicated the restriction on Government time, but there is a willingness to bring in an aggravation offence for trafficking. That is being promoted by the Lord Advocate and will give law enforcement more powers to ensure that those who are involved in this evil trade are brought to account and brought to justice.
Before we come to First Minister’s questions, members will wish to join me in welcoming to the gallery the Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly, William Hay MLA.