Plenary, 24 Apr 2008

Meeting date: Thursday, April 24, 2008

Official Report 771KB pdf

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Question Time

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SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE

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General Questions

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Scottish Ambulance Service

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to review the Scottish Ambulance Service. (S3O-2966)

The Scottish Ambulance Service is the subject of continuous review and performance management by the Scottish Government. The process involves the weekly reporting of information on category A performance and on other key operational indicators. All national health service boards are subject to a public annual review, which provides an opportunity for the Scottish Government to scrutinise, challenge and hold the board to account.

Given that 15 Highland ambulance stations are staffed by just one person for periods of at least 24 hours over weekends, and that single-manned ambulances are becoming a regular feature, will the minister ensure that there are sufficient trained staff in the Highland ambulance service to respond to patient needs, and that ambulance staff are supported and valued for the important service that they provide?

Of course we very much value the work of our ambulance service. The Scottish Ambulance Service has been allocated £183.4 million for 2008-09, which represents a significant increase on previous years. For that resource, we expect the service to invest. In the north, 141 more front-line staff—they are very hard working—have been taken on in recent years. The policy is that accident and emergency ambulances should be double crewed, with at least one crew member being a paramedic, apart from exceptional circumstances such as short-notice sickness absence or leave in which cover cannot be secured.

We are working hard with the Scottish Ambulance Service, through the performance support team that has been allocated by the health directorates, to ensure that we drive forward continuous service improvement, especially in relation to category A performance. We will continue to do that.

I recognise the honest intent behind what the minister is saying, but the fact is that north-west Sutherland has, in effect, had single manning for far too long. But for the grace of God, we could have had a tragedy on our hands by now. Will the minister—with the best intentions in her heart—come and examine the specific problem in north-west Sutherland, before something goes very badly wrong?

Of course, I am always willing to consider cases that are raised in the chamber, by Jamie Stone or anyone else. I will do that. Wherever possible, call handlers and managers of emergency medical dispatch centres dispatch the emergency ambulance resource that will best meet the needs of the patient, based on an assessment of the information that is provided by the caller. In that way, the service always seeks to avoid dispatching a single-manned resource to an incident when the primary need is for an ambulance-supported transfer to hospital.

As I said, I am very willing to look at the cases that Jamie Stone has raised. We expect the Scottish Ambulance Service also to examine any incidents that have been raised. If Jamie Stone has not already done so, I ask him to pass on his information to the service.

Is the minister happy that there is sufficient funding available for the Scottish Ambulance Service, not just for its notional staff complement to meet the needs of remote areas, but to ensure that there are staff for the emergency call-outs that often seem to happen when only one person is available?

As I said, the Scottish Ambulance Service has been allocated an increase in resource of 78 per cent on the resource that it had back in 2001-02. As I also said, the service has invested in the north, with 141 more front-line staff being taken on in recent years. I am of course willing to hear more from Rob Gibson on the matter. If he wishes to write to me about his specific concerns, I will get back to him.

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Scottish Ambulance Service (Meetings)

To ask the Scottish Executive when the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing last met the Scottish Ambulance Service and what issues were discussed. (S3O-2988)

The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing met the board of the Scottish Ambulance Service on 30 January 2008. A range of issues was discussed. In addition, the cabinet secretary and I meet all national health service board chairs regularly. We did so most recently on 25 February.

The minister is aware that volunteer drivers are paid a mileage rate that is lower than that which is calculated by HM Revenue and Customs as the true cost of running a car. Does she agree that it is therefore no surprise that there is a shortage of such volunteers? That shortage means that the service no longer meets demands and patients are being forced to make alternative arrangements. Where that is impossible, the service uses taxis. That is a false economy. What will the minister do about that problem?

Volunteer drivers are of course important and valued by the Scottish Ambulance Service. The service has recently reviewed the mileage allowance as part of its annual budget-setting process and has said that it has no plans to increase the rate payable. However, I am aware of the concerns raised by Rhoda Grant and other members about the issue and I have asked that the Scottish Ambulance Service look again at the matter.

When the minister next meets the Scottish Ambulance Service, will she raise the deeply concerning events of 30 March in my constituency, when an air ambulance flight that was due to pick up a baby with suspected meningitis was left stranded at Glasgow airport awaiting refuelling? Does the minister agree that that situation was utterly unacceptable, given that with meningitis every minute can be critical? When does she expect a full report on the incident from the SAS? Will she take steps to ensure that such a situation cannot happen again at any airport in Scotland? Does she accept that the case adds further weight to the calls from my constituents for a locally based air ambulance?

We are well aware of the issues that the member raises. We have been in communication with Kevin Doran, the chief executive of the Scottish Ambulance Service, about the case. As the member pointed out, we are awaiting a full report. When we get it, I will be happy to write to the member with our response to the concerns that he raises.

A constituent of mine has drawn to my attention the substantial difficulty for Borderers in accessing routine ambulance transport when they require to attend essential radiotherapy at the Western general hospital in Edinburgh because such treatment is not available at the Borders general hospital. In her meetings with the Scottish Ambulance Service and NHS boards, will the minister make general inquiries about that situation, which exacerbates the stress to families and patients who are already dealing with cancer and the treatment that ensues?

I am happy to raise the issue of patient transfers with the Scottish Ambulance Service. It is one of the issues that is discussed regularly with the service. I am happy to take forward the concerns that Christine Grahame has raised. She might like to write to me about them in more detail.

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Private Rented Accommodation<br />(Students and Young People)

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it can take to alleviate the impact of rising rental prices and living costs on students and young people seeking to live in private rental accommodation. (S3O-3048)

The Government is committed to supporting students. We have significantly reduced their debt burden by removing the graduate endowment fee; we have increased support for part-time learners; and we have continued the young students bursary, disabled students allowance and lone parents grants.

We would encourage any students who are in financial hardship to talk to their university or college to see whether they may be eligible for discretionary funds. Other young people who are struggling with rent and living costs should talk to their local authority to find out whether they are eligible for housing benefit and council tax benefit.

As the minister knows, the majority of students and young people who live in private rented accommodation live in houses in multiple occupation. The Government consultation on Scottish planning policy 3 says that councils should apply planning control over HMOs in a particular geographic area or demonstrate why control is not needed in that area. Does the minister agree that before the planning system is used to restrict further the availability of HMO accommodation in communities, research should be undertaken in conjunction with local authorities to show what impact the high concentration of HMOs is having in an area, as well as the consequences of restricting the availability of such accommodation?

The Scottish Government recognises the importance of HMO accommodation and does not intend to restrict supply. In the draft planning guidance on HMOs, we have said that local authorities should consider adopting planning policies on HMOs where they feel that there is a need to protect the integrity of communities. However, the guidance also makes it clear that local authorities need to balance the concerns of local residents with considering how to meet future demand for HMO accommodation. The consultation on the draft planning guidance finished recently and planning colleagues are considering the responses to it.

We said in draft SPP 3 that local authorities should work closely with universities and other agencies in their area in order that they can plan how best to meet the future demand for student accommodation and accommodation for others who want to live in houses in multiple occupation. Migrant workers and other young people also use HMO accommodation.

Does the minister share the concerns of around 1,000 of my constituents who have contacted me in the past 10 days or so to say that they are worried about the way that the draft planning guidance might be interpreted by local authorities and that it is vital that he rules out reductions in HMO properties? The minister is absolutely right to state that it is not just students who use such properties; a range of other people rely on rented accommodation.

In the minister's discussions with the universities, will he consider putting on the table cash to enable them to build the new accommodation that they need urgently, given that there are more than 60,000 students in Edinburgh alone and that the house-building rates have not kept up with the demand for affordable housing? My question is partly about sensitivity towards HMOs, but will the minister please look at the housing supply issue, too?

As the member is aware, there was a consultation process. I am aware of the campaign that has been running on this issue. I, like every other member, have had a large number of e-mails on the subject. The consultation is now closed and the planning minister and officials are discussing how to take it forward. The best way forward for us is to wait and see the results of the consultation process. I am sure that the planning minister will respond to the consultation in due course.

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Hydro Power

To ask the Scottish Executive how it is encouraging the development of hydro power schemes. (S3O-2969)

Through the forum for renewable energy development in Scotland—FREDS—we have commissioned a Scottish hydro resource study, which will examine the potential for future hydro development, any possible constraints, and how such constraints could be removed. The study is due for completion in June, with the forum expected to report to ministers later in the summer. Meanwhile, new hydro schemes remain eligible to claim renewables obligation certificates.

Is the minister aware that developers of small-scale hydro schemes are experiencing extreme delays in obtaining consent from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency for licences under the Water Environment (Controlled Activities) (Scotland) Regulations 2005—or CAR—regime? Will he undertake to investigate that matter and encourage SEPA to speed up the process, which is undoubtedly hindering the development of hydro power throughout Scotland and therefore holding us back in meeting our targets for renewable energy?

The member will find that SEPA is engaging increasingly with the hydro sector to provide the clearest possible guidance. I expect that to be a further by-product of the study. I am sure that both he and I will monitor that.

Does the minister agree that developing Scotland's potential in hydro power and other renewables will depend on acknowledging the importance of social and economic development in remote rural communities? Does he acknowledge the widespread concern about his recent decision that in Lewis

"there is no basis on which to consider the test of imperative reasons of over-riding public interest"?

Does he believe that that judgment might risk creating no-go areas for hydro, wind and marine renewables across large parts of Scotland?

I note the member's comments, but I refer him to the activity in which we engaged last year. We brought together communities, councils, developers, environmentalists and renewables campaigners to get a new consensus about how to take forward the issue. We are carrying out a study in the Western Isles and I will be there in August to ensure that we drive things forward and find the appropriate role for renewables in the Western Isles to benefit communities, their economy and their environment and to address the social issues that they face.

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Criminal Justice System (Child Protection)

To ask the Scottish Executive how the criminal justice system will ensure that children of drug-addicted parents receive the correct support. (S3O-3001)

The Scottish Government's plans for working with partners to support children who are affected by parental substance misuse will be set out as part of the new national drugs strategy to be published before the summer recess. That will focus on improving outcomes through prevention, early intervention and building the capacity and quality of support services, as well as effective responses to children who are at immediate risk. Underpinning that will be a commitment to strengthened partnership working, which includes those working in the criminal justice system, along with other sectors engaging with vulnerable children and families.

On 6 September, the Cabinet Secretary for Justice, in his closing speech in the debate on drugs misuse, assured me that he would discuss child protection points with other ministers who have responsibility in that area. When on 27 September I asked him how those discussions had gone, he was not able to report any practical progress or action. When do ministers intend to report to Parliament on the actions that they have taken on this matter and to set out their proper co-ordinated response for protecting those children?

I am aware of the work that has been done over the years by Duncan McNeil—and, indeed, by members of all parties—on this most serious issue. As the minister responsible for the draft strategy, I assure him that I have had numerous meetings with my ministerial colleagues on the matter. In fact, they have probably seen far more of me than they might have wished.

I am extremely excited by the challenge of ensuring that more and more people whose lives have been plagued by drugs succeed in getting rid of that scourge. That is what Scotland wants. On Monday in Glasgow, I was delighted to hand out 12 certificates to young people who had been abstinent from drugs for a year. Those young people, and those who helped them get off drugs, are the pride of Scotland, and we should all congratulate them on their excellent work.

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Family Contact Centres (Glasgow)

To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met the sheriff principal of Glasgow and what matters were discussed. (S3O-3014)

Scottish Government officials frequently meet the sheriff principal of Glasgow and Strathkelvin to discuss a range of matters.

As the cabinet secretary knows, I have been asking about the operation of family contact centres. In response to my questions, his colleague Adam Ingram said that he had

"not yet had the opportunity to visit"—[Official Report, Written Answers, 15 April 2008; S3W-11215.]

such a centre—which, I must admit, I found somewhat surprising. Mr Ingram also told me that he was meeting justice officials to discuss problems caused by children not being brought to contact centres, and that this was a problem not just in Glasgow but elsewhere. At their next meeting, will the cabinet secretary ask the sheriff principal what steps are being taken to reinforce contact orders?

I am happy to discuss the issue with not only the sheriff principal of Glasgow and Strathkelvin, but sheriffs elsewhere. After all, this is a problem the length and breadth of Scotland and not only in one urban area.

The last time that Mr Whitton raised the issue—and he has been right to do so—I said that under the law of Scotland the child's interests have been and remain paramount. Clearly, significant difficulties have occurred and, in certain cases, fathers who are separated from their children have in particular faced great hardship. There is no simple solution to such issues, although the provision of contact centres and the proper enforcement of contact orders form an appropriate course of action.

As the Cabinet Secretary for Justice, I assure the member that sheriffs are aware of those problems. Indeed, as someone who practised for 20 years in this area of law, I know that such issues have caused and continue to cause difficulties. The member is right that we have to do more and do it better, but I assure him that the child's interests will remain paramount.

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Scottish Business in the Community (Funding)

To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding will be provided in 2008-09 to continue Scottish Business in the Community's senior executive programme for volunteering. (S3O-3049)

Government support for Scottish Business in the Community's senior executive programme was due to come to an end in March 2008. However, the organisation has accepted our offer of a three-month extension to that grant of up to £23,750 to allow it to seek additional funding from other sources or to rearrange its business model.

The cabinet secretary is aware that 250 retired business and professional volunteers have taken part in the programme, which has provided 23,000 hours of professional support per annum to volunteering groups. Moreover, the programme has generated more than £1 million of professional support for charities and community groups throughout Scotland and has encouraged volunteering and support for the voluntary sector in a very cost-efficient way. Why is the Scottish National Party Government asking Scottish Business in the Community to secure separate funding for it? As any party in the chamber can see, surely its case is well made.

As Mr Purvis will understand, it is specified to organisations that financial support will be offered to particular projects for a particular period of time. That has been the case with this project. The Government has provided additional support to allow the project to find additional sources of funding and to review how it undertakes its activities.

The Government welcomes the third sector's involvement. Indeed, this morning, I had the privilege of addressing the Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland's annual forum, which was celebrating the third sector's achievements and recording its formidable contributions to the Scottish economy and Scottish public policy. I warmly endorse such sentiments.

I am sure that members will wish to join me in welcoming Ms Conny Seoposengwe MPL, the Speaker of the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature, who has joined us in the Presiding Officer's gallery for First Minister's question time. Madam Speaker, you are most welcome. [Applause.]