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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Europe, External Affairs and Culture

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Summer Time

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations the Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture has made to the United Kingdom Government regarding the impact on matters within its responsibilities of summer time across Europe corresponding more closely. (S3O-3008)

Any change would have implications across a wide range of areas, including road safety, climate change and agriculture, and would require careful consideration and analysis. No representations have been made to the UK Government on the issue at this stage.

The Government often commends the Scandinavian countries for their approach to public policy. Is the minister aware that a number of Scandinavian countries have adopted central European time, despite their more northerly latitude? Is she aware that the West Highland Free Press is urging more research on the effects of the policy in those countries on, for example, school pupils' safety? Will she support research on the experience and on the wider impact of those countries' policies on the range of issues for which the Scottish Government has responsibility, so that further debate on the matter can be fully informed?

As Mr Peacock said, many issues must be considered. Research on road safety is being undertaken by the UK Government and the Scottish Government, and research is also being carried out in relation to climate change. We will, of course, consider examples and listen to the debate.

Members who are old enough will remember the approach being tried out—I think it was around about the late 1960s. I remember going to school in a transparent vest—[Laughter.] Excuse the memory—

I think that the minister meant to say "translucent".

Oh!

I think that appropriate language is called for at this point.

I wonder whether my remark could be struck from the Official Report.

It is more likely to be highlighted, minister.

I was talking about those shiny vests that shone in the dark. [Laughter.]

The experiment was stopped after three years—that had nothing at all to do with my attire—because it was not thought to be advantageous to Scotland.

We move swiftly on to question 2.

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Zambia (Sustainable Development)

To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to help promote sustainable development in Zambia. (S3O-3019)

I thank Aileen Campbell for bringing us all back down to earth.

The Scottish Government's engagement with Zambia has primarily focused on health, particularly concerning issues around HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention.

I recently returned from a trip to Zambia with Oxfam Scotland, where I viewed projects that the agency and its partners run, which promote sustainability. Does the minister agree that Scotland's historic links with countries such as Zambia provide us with a unique opportunity to build on those connections and allow Scotland's input into international development to have a tangible and positive impact, not only on the country that benefits but on Scotland? Does she agree that the expertise of agencies such as Oxfam and the Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund should be used to inform Government?

Yes. Of course we should use Scotland's historic links with countries such as Zambia to try to inform us, where possible, about what we can best do to contribute to the international development agenda. One thing that we can do is take on board the advice and experience of agencies such as Oxfam and SCIAF, which have worked on the issues for many years.

I think that all members understand that our international development policy, which is in addition to the Department for International Development's policy, to which Scotland contributes, is focused and targeted on what we can achieve. We must be realistic about our goals. I will publish our international development plan shortly and I hope that we can reach broad agreement that Scotland is moving in the right direction.

We are aware of Scotland's links with Malawi through David Livingstone, but we are perhaps less familiar with Livingstone's strong links with Zambia—indeed, he died by Lake Bangweulu in that country.

Can the minister provide an assurance that any involvement in Zambia will not mean that aid is diverted from Malawi? Does she agree that Malawi should remain our immediate and urgent priority?

I am delighted to reconfirm that, for the first time, international development funding for Malawi of at least £3 million a year for the next three years has been confirmed and ring fenced. Malawi has the comfort of knowing that a pot of money is there for the unique partnership that exists between Scotland and Malawi.

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Music and Drama

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to make Scotland a world leader in music and drama. (S3O-3047)

Scotland's diverse and vibrant cultural life is a defining feature of our successful and confident nation. In music and drama, and across all art forms, our artists are recognised across the world, and we are committed to providing support to help develop our international reputation for cultural excellence.

Given the minister's answer, will she pay particular attention to the situation of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, which has expressed concern about its financial situation? What steps is the Government taking to ease the situation for the academy?

Decisions on staffing issues at Scottish higher education institutions are the responsibility of their management teams, and the RSAMD is no different. As a fully autonomous body that is independent of Government, the academy alone must judge the best decisions to take if it is to achieve its strategic objectives. That said, I expect it to discuss its restructuring plans in full consultation with staff and the unions that represent staff. My colleague, the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, is assured that it is doing that.

Will the minister tell us what steps she is taking to allow Scottish music and drama to be exported around the world in order to attract visitors to Scotland in 2009, which is the year of homecoming?

One of the steps that we have taken is the establishment of the new expo fund, from which £2 million a year will be used during the next three years to promote the Scottish excellence that we all care so much about. That funding will enable Scotland-based productions to flourish through the Edinburgh festivals and then to tour overseas. I hope that that injection of new funding will bring Scotland many benefits.

Returning to the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, do the minister and her colleague, the cabinet secretary—who is sitting beside her—recognise that the RSAMD is a world-class institution that depends to a large extent on one-to-one tuition? Are they therefore concerned about the new contracts that are being offered to teachers? The RSAMD appears to be at risk of losing staff because of the greatly reduced salaries that are being offered for fewer hours of work.

Does the minister accept that the Scottish Government has a responsibility because the drama courses in particular are not funded at conservatoire level and have to cross-subsidise the music courses? Will she intervene with the Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Council to try to rectify the underlying problem?

We respect and value the work of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama and its contribution to the arts in Scotland. However, I can only reiterate that decisions on the strategic direction of individual institutions are the responsibility of the management of those institutions. Of course, as I said earlier, we expect management to consult both staff and unions.

I must put on the record the fact that there was a 4.8 per cent uplift in the funding of the RSAMD this year.

I appreciate the support that the Scottish Government gives to traditional Scottish music, but will the minister confirm that the Government also supports international classical music and our world-class national orchestras? Will she further confirm that our national orchestras will be maintained and enhanced?

We have two national orchestras: the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, whose work is indeed world class. That is proved over and over again by the touring that they do and the reception that they get worldwide. The national orchestras are funded directly by the Government, and this year they have had a settlement that will enable them to carry on their very good work.

Is the minister not at all concerned that the RSAMD, a leading institution in the area of drama and music, is facing such a crisis that the quality of its teaching will definitely suffer?

Given that the Government has stepped in on other situations, such as that involving the Crichton campus in Dumfries, does the minister agree that she should discuss with the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning the fact that they should do the right thing and step in and save the quality of teaching and reputation of the RSAMD?

The products of the academy—such as James McAvoy and Robert Carlyle—show the work that the institution has done. I urge the minister to think again about what interventions she should make.

As has already been stated, the issue is one for the funding council.

My colleague the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning wrote to the funding council to lay out her priorities for the university sector, one of which was:

"growth in undergraduate and taught post-graduate numbers (for excellence in the performing arts, including dance)".

This Government cares about the culture of this country.

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Creative Scotland

To ask the Scottish Executive what extra funding it will provide to creative Scotland for its new responsibilities. (S3O-2980)

Over the next three years, creative Scotland and the bodies that we propose that it replace have been allocated nearly £150 million to invest in Scotland's culture.

The minister will be aware that committees of the Parliament are, at present, considering the Creative Scotland Bill. Members of the Finance Committee have raised concerns about the cost estimates of £700,000 for the creation of the new arts body. The committee convener, Andrew Welsh—a Scottish National Party MSP—said:

"It is the most unreliable estimate that I have seen in my life."

Alex Neil, another committee member, said to a Government official who appeared before the committee:

"It seems as if you have stuck your thumb in the air and plucked out a figure."—[Official Report, Finance Committee, 22 April 2008; c 397-8.]

Who is right? The committee members who are scrutinising the bill's financial memorandum, or the minister who approved it?

I have undertaken to write to the Finance Committee about the detail of the financial memorandum and the Creative Scotland Bill. I will do so by 30 April.

Can the minister tell us whether the spending that was mentioned will allow efficiencies to be factored in? Will that cohesive spending deliver longer-term benefits?

I am absolutely convinced that creative Scotland will be a successful body and that we will all see the benefits of that in the years to come.

Over and above the debacle of the financial memorandum, will the minister comment on the fact that the budget lines for the Scottish Arts Council and Scottish Screen are declining over the next three years? How on earth will creative Scotland be able to fulfil the new and extra functions that it will have in relation to the creative industries?

I do not accept that the budget lines are declining.

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Cuba (Links)

To ask the Scottish Executive what cultural and other links Scotland has with Cuba. (S3O-3011)

The Scottish Government has no current plans to establish cultural or other links with Cuba. We would, however, be glad to consider opportunities to engage with Cuba where those are in line with the objectives that are set out in the Scottish Government's international framework, which I published on 22 April 2008.

Does the minister share my concern about the visits by Caleb McCarry, the United States of America's Cuba transition co-ordinator, to several European countries, including Britain, given that they look very like another attempt by the USA to pressure Europe into adopting the USA's aggressive anti-Cuba policy at a time when there is a favourable European Union rapprochement towards Cuba and a likelihood of the complete elimination of the temporarily suspended sanctions?

Will the minister join me in commending Spain, France and Italy for the huge strides that they have made in cementing more normal trading, scientific and cultural exchanges with Cuba? Given the United Kingdom's stated policy of constructive engagement with the island, will she commit to improving engagement between Scotland and Cuba, where she can?

I am not convinced that there is much that is of a devolved nature in that question, but it is up to the minister how she wishes to reply.

Everyone is aware of the cultural links between Scotland and Cuba. Indeed, Glasgow was twinned with the city of Havana in 2002, and there have been several trade missions to Cuba since then, with representation from the Scottish business community. The Royal Society of Edinburgh has an informal agreement with the Academy of Sciences of Cuba. Many links exist between Scotland and Cuba, and many people in Scotland care deeply about Cuba and wish that United Nations resolutions were properly upheld.

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Community Music Festivals (Support)

To ask the Scottish Executive what support it gives community music festivals in rural areas. (S3O-3046)

Our support for community music festivals in rural areas across Scotland is provided mainly through the Scottish Arts Council and EventScotland, with additional assistance from bodies such as Bòrd Na Gàidhlig.

I am sure that the cabinet secretary will be aware of the tremendous efforts and hard work of local communities to provide music festivals in rural areas. This year's Isle of Skye music festival had to be cancelled due to escalating costs. Will she consider giving further support and funding to local music festivals?

I understand the disappointment of many people at the demise of the Isle of Skye music festival. However, the Scottish Arts Council did not receive an application for funding for the 2007 festival, and it has confirmed that it has not had a funding relationship with the festival in the past. The SAC held informal discussions with the festival but advised the organisers that it was not able to underwrite the deficit.

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National Industrial Museums (Investment)

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will deliver the £3 million capital investment promised by the previous Administration for national industrial museums. (S3O-2977)

I have been asked that question before by Malcolm Chisholm. He talked about £3 million being earmarked, and now Rhona Brankin is asking me about £3 million that was "promised". I am afraid that I can find no such promise of capital funding in any of the grant offer letters that were issued by the previous Administration. Indeed, the previous Administration's limited-term revenue funding made it difficult for those museums to attract capital investment.

As part of our 2007 spending review, ministers, for the first time, made budgetary provision to allow consideration of the capital needs of non-national museums. I will meet the chairs and chief executives of the three industrial museums during May to discuss their business cases.

I thank the minister for that disappointing reply.

From correspondence that the minister has exchanged with me and the board of the Scottish Mining Museum, she will know that the Lady Victoria colliery is in urgent need of work to preserve the fabric of its internationally significant grade-A listed buildings. Will the Scottish National Party Government finally show some respect for Scotland's industrial past and take urgent action to ensure that no parts of Europe's best preserved 19th century colliery complex end up facing demolition? Will she also clarify which Heritage Lottery Fund report she referred to in her recent letter to me? My understanding is that no such report is due.

Will the previous Administration admit that it made no promises and earmarked no money for the three industrial museums? None of those museums received grant offer letters beyond those for 2007-08. I repeat: the first time that such funds were provisionally allocated to the non-national museums budget was as part of the 2007 spending review, under current ministers.

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Scots Language (Promotion)

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has for the promotion of the Scots language under the European charter for regional or minority languages.(S3O-3037)

As part of our undertakings for Scots under the European charter for regional or minority languages, this month the Scottish Government will write to local authorities and public bodies to remind them of their responsibilities and to ask what activities and initiatives have been introduced and are taking place in their area of operation. We are also in the process of commissioning an audit of Scots language provision in Scotland, which will take account of current provision in the context of the charter. I am looking forward to the outcome of the audit, and our future plans for Scots will be guided by its findings.

As the minister his said, she is cairrying oot an audit at the minute. Fit progress has been made by the audit, and fit will the next step be efter the ootcome o the audit?

I will shortly announce who will carry out the audit, which I hope will be completed round about October. I will consider the findings, which will largely dictate what we will do next. I reiterate the Government's commitment to valuing the Scots language.

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I was a tad bemused by your advice to the minister that my question about Cuba might not have dealt with devolved issues. I wonder whether you can look into why, under the standing orders, the question was allowed into the Business Bulletin in the first place and what exactly European and external affairs comprises in relation to the Parliament and devolved issues.

The question was about culture, Ms Smith, but a lot of your supplementary question seemed to be about trade links. Nevertheless, I will look into the matter and will provide you with a more substantive answer in writing.

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Education and Lifelong Learning

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Education (Aberdeen)

To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to help increase educational choices for pupils in Aberdeen. (S3O-2959)

The spending review delivered a record level of funding for Scotland's local authorities and the historic concordant with local government set out the various ways in which we are working in partnership with Scotland's councils, including Aberdeen City Council, to improve opportunities for Scotland's school pupils. The proposed improvements in the curriculum will increase the educational choices that are available. Our measures to reduce student debt and support students at college, alongside increased opportunities for vocational learning, will present the school pupils of Aberdeen and Scotland with increased opportunity to make positive education choices that are based on their talents rather than their financial situation.

As the cabinet secretary is probably aware, Aberdeen is likely to lose 80 teaching posts and there is real concern among parents and pupils that subject choice will be limited, particularly at secondary school level. Will the Scottish Government monitor the situation in Aberdeen? What, if anything, can it do to reassure parents and pupils that pupils will be able to access the full range of courses for their individual subject choices?

The education authority in Aberdeen is responsible for the provision of education in the city. However, I will shortly meet directors of education from throughout Scotland and I will impress on them the importance of ensuring that subject choices are available, particularly at higher and advanced higher level, so that the educational choices that pupils and their parents expect are available for our young people.

Does the cabinet secretary believe that Aberdeen City Council's ability to deliver choice and quality to school pupils is helped or undermined by the fact that it, as an education authority, has no department of education, no education committee and no democratically accountable convener of education?

I emphasise the fact that this Government is not about micromanaging local government. We recognise that councils will determine what departments they have.

The previous Administration encouraged local authorities to have integrated children's and education departments, which was very much part of the joint working that the previous Administration suggested would benefit youngsters, not least in the context of child protection issues. We share concerns about child protection throughout the country, and there are differences in performance in child protection in different authorities. The move to integrated departments was one way of addressing that. There are some successful integrated departments—Mary Mulligan, who is sitting beside Lewis Macdonald, may be familiar with that approach working across the Lothians. However, it is not the responsibility of national Government to micromanage what committees local government sets up to scrutinise its affairs.

Will the Scottish Executive, through the concordat with local government, ask the education officials in Aberdeen City Council and Aberdeenshire Council to meet officials from the Educational Institute of Scotland who, in a recent statement, have expressed grave concern about the reduction in the availability of advanced highers in the area?

I reiterate that it is up to Aberdeen City Council, as an education authority, to engage with staff and, particularly, unions. I am sure that it will do that. It is important to record that national Government's contribution to Aberdeen City Council for 2008-09 is of the order of 4.7 per cent of core revenue funding, which is a very adequate settlement—indeed, it is above the percentage given to other local authorities. I respect the fact that Aberdeen City Council, as an education authority, must administer its own affairs. Nevertheless, I encourage it to engage with the EIS, in particular, to address the concerns that Elizabeth Smith and Nanette Milne have raised.

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Local Government Concordat (Education)

To ask the Scottish Executive whether every local authority, including Aberdeen City Council, is meeting the terms of the Scottish Government's concordat with local government with regard to educational provision. (S3O-2974)

All 32 local authorities in Scotland have submitted draft single outcome agreements that set out how they will contribute to the agreed national outcomes in relation to education provision. Those drafts are currently the subject of discussion. We aim to complete the process of finalising all the agreements for 2008-09 by 30 June. Subject to agreement with the authorities, all the finalised single outcome agreements will be made publicly available shortly thereafter.

How can the commitment to smaller class sizes be fulfilled in Aberdeen when, as other members have pointed out, schools are being closed and teaching posts are being cut? If that is in line with the Scottish Government's concordat with local government, how on earth can the concordat be used as a vehicle to fulfil Government pledges on education? Will the cabinet secretary report back to Parliament following her meeting with directors of education to tell us if impressing on them the importance of those issues will result in those pledges being fulfilled?

I understand that Richard Baker was part of the cross-party delegation that met the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth yesterday to explore some of the issues that are particular to Aberdeen City Council. I understand that Aberdeen City Council has yet to make decisions about its school provision, for which it is responsible. However, it is important to consider that there are provisions for falling school rolls in different parts of the country that will enable the reprovision of education and a reduction in class sizes.

The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities has given a commitment that it will deliver class size reductions year on year throughout Scotland, and we expect every local authority, including Aberdeen City Council, to make progress and reduce class sizes over the spending review period.

Question 3 has been withdrawn.

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Modern Apprenticeships

To ask the Scottish Government what changes have been introduced to modern apprenticeship placements. (S3O-3035)

On 31 March, we announced a package of changes to the modern apprenticeship programme to ensure that public money supports the Government economic strategy. Those included the development of a new life science modern apprenticeship framework, an increase in the number of construction and engineering-related modern apprenticeships by providing 1,000 additional opportunities, and the provision of an additional 6,500 level 2 modern apprenticeships through reform of the skillseekers programme.

The package amounts to substantial change and illustrates our commitment to target support to the construction and engineering-related sectors, in which we know our investment delivers results. That growth equates to increasing the number of adult modern apprenticeships by 50 per cent and increasing the number of 16 to 19-year-old modern apprenticeships by 10 per cent, which will support individuals in industries that face particular training pressures. We also announced that we will continue to support the get ready for work and training for work programmes, which will ensure that those who are in most need of support continue to receive it.

Does the cabinet secretary agree that changing the types of apprenticeships is positive in two ways: first, it ensures that we will be able to fill the skills gap in Scotland and, secondly, the apprentices will be in a better position to gain employment in the field in which they have been trained to work?

Yes. As the Government has promised a 40 per cent increase in new build in future years, it is essential that we train people to carry out the construction, engineering and other aspects to help the economy and show that our country is making progress. It is essential that any programme that is funded by the public purse helps to support the Government's overarching purpose of sustainable economic growth. The changes in modern apprenticeships will allow us to do that.

How will the Scottish National Party's scrapping of adult modern apprenticeships in the tourism, travel and hospitality sectors improve placement opportunities in those increasingly important sectors of the Scottish economy?

The revision of the modern apprenticeship scheme, which will allow for an extra 1,000 modern apprenticeships in construction and engineering, was part of the redirection of the training programmes. Skills development Scotland is being restructured to ensure that we have more space and scope in the future to develop training opportunities where they are needed. I know that the food and drink industry, in which we have a particular interest with regard to helping domestic industry, is pleased at the provision of level 2 modern apprenticeships, which will help that sector.

I want support to be provided in the tourism industry and I will engage with my enterprise colleagues on how that might best be done. We can do that because we have reprofiled the modern apprenticeship scheme. If we had not done that, such support might not be possible.

Question 5 has been withdrawn.

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School Building Programme

To ask the Scottish Executive how many schools it plans to build by 2011. (S3O-2993)

Local authorities are responsible for the detail of decisions on capital investment in school buildings. As our recently published infrastructure investment plan said, we expect the funding and rebuilding or refurbishment of about 250 schools to be delivered or secured in the current parliamentary session.

The minister is ever the optimist. I am sure that, like all Scottish National Party MSPs, she has read and understood the SNP's proposals for the Scottish futures trust, which is to involve a management board. Is she satisfied with the role of such an unelected, appointed board, which will decide which schools are built, which are not built and when? Is she satisfied that local communities will have no impact on the design of those schools? I remind her to be careful in her answer, as it may find her in court later.

I hoped that the member would welcome the number of schools that will be built under the Government. I leave his reference to the Scottish futures trust to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth.

Mr Kerr is right to highlight the confusion about the Scottish futures trust. I apologise to Christina McKelvie, who diplomatically is absent from the chamber, but her contribution to "Newsnight Scotland" last night did not assist the situation. When will we have clarity on the funding mechanism for new schools? Until we have that, the hiatus in the school building programme will continue.

As I have said, there are methods other than the Scottish futures trust for building schools. The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth, John Swinney, launched a consultation paper on the Scottish futures trust on 20 December. The aim of the consultation, which ended on 14 March, was to set out the Scottish Government's thinking on the Scottish futures trust, so that we can deliver a better deal for taxpayers than does the costly private finance initiative.

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School Building Programme

That exchange was illuminating.

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide an update on its school building programme. (S3O-2965)

The Scottish Government is matching and funding the previous Administration's school building programme brick for brick. We expect to deliver about 250 new or refurbished schools in this parliamentary session through a range of funding mechanisms.

Since May 2007, we have signed off funding for seven local authority projects that involve rebuilding or refurbishing 45 schools, and 14 of the schools are part of projects that are based on the non-profit-distributing model. [Interruption.]

Order.

Four further projects will take the total to more than 50. The local government settlement provides for significant growth in the capital resources for schools and other forms of local authority infrastructure—almost £3 billion over the next three years, including an additional £115 million in 2008-09.

I am sorry to tell the minister that the impression of dithering in government is not confined to Westminster. Councils throughout Scotland, and particularly East Renfrewshire Council in the west, stand ready to make urgent and vital investment in new school building projects and are frustrated at the lack of clear advice on the proposed Scottish futures trust. Andrew Welsh asserted in committee on 26 March:

"We have come a long way from using mobile huts in schools."—[Official Report, Audit Committee, 26 March 2008; c 487.]

However, such huts are being used at Eastwood high school.

Twenty-five per cent of the Government's time in office is gone. How much longer will Scotland's local authorities, schools, teachers, parents and pupils have to wait before they can proceed with definitive advice and a definitive scheme, instead of being expected to welcome a phantom promise of 250 schools in the next four years?

Forty-five schools in 10 months is fairly good, and we will get 14 schools in the next few months. That does not include the other schools that will be built because of the £3 billion that has been given to local government, which it has warmly welcomed, to refurbish and build schools and other local authority infrastructure.

All the schools that the minister referred to are, of course, covered by contracts that were under negotiation prior to her party coming into government on 3 May. She said that the Government is matching the previous Administration's plans "brick for brick". Labour promised to deliver 100 new schools by the end of 2009. In that context, is she prepared to continue to assert that the Government will match Labour's programme "brick for brick"?

The previous Administration's contracts were negotiated under the private finance initiative model. We agreed to continue them because many of the projects were too far down the road to get away from that expensive model, but no funding was in place for further projects or schools. We will ensure that the previous Labour Administration's commitment on schools will be not only met but exceeded.

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Primary School Teacher Places

To ask the Scottish Executive how many new primary school teacher places will be available from August 2008. (S3O-3052)

We have agreed an historic concordat with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities that enables local authorities to maintain teacher numbers at a time of falling school rolls. Under that concordat, local government has agreed to make year-on-year progress on reducing primary 1 to primary 3 class sizes to a maximum of 18 pupils, which will increase employment opportunities for primary teachers. Local authorities must take account of such factors when they recruit teachers.

I will take the answer to my question as being none.

I am sure that the minister will accept that additional teachers need to be employed in order to drive down school rolls. Will she finally accept that the local government interpretation of the much-vaunted concordat is that there will not be a single extra penny to employ a single extra teacher next year—

Why did the councils sign up to it, then?

Order, Mr Gibson.

Will the minister finally accept that many probationary teachers in my constituency and elsewhere are concerned that, having gone through teacher training and spent a year as a probationary teacher, they have no prospect of getting permanent employment in August? What will she do to reverse that situation?

As the member will be aware, we inherited a situation in which newly trained teachers were finding it difficult to find employment, which is why we took early action by providing an additional £9 million for 2007-08. Local authority returns show that 245 full-time equivalent teachers were employed as a result of those extra funds. The Government supports Scotland's schools and its education system, which is why, in a tight financial climate, we have increased local government's budget by 5 per cent, 4.1 per cent and 3.4 per cent over the next three years.

Question 9 has been withdrawn, for understandable reasons. That gives me the rare opportunity to invite a member to ask the 10th question.

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Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (Reorganisation)

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports the use of compulsory redundancy as part of the proposed reorganisation of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. (S3O-3002)

I am shocked that I have had the opportunity to ask the 10th question.

I congratulate the member, as she is probably the first member to ask the 10th question at question time. Her question is important.

Decisions on staffing issues at Scottish higher education institutions are the responsibility of the management teams of those institutions. The RSAMD is no different. As a fully autonomous body that is independent of the Government, it alone must judge what decisions it must take to achieve its strategic objectives. That said, I expect it to discuss its restructuring plans in full consultation with staff and the unions. I have been assured that it is doing so.

Does the cabinet secretary acknowledge that the RSAMD is a leading institution not only in Scotland and the United Kingdom but in the world? Given that the Government previously stepped in with respect to the Crichton campus, for example, will the cabinet secretary save Scotland's future in drama, dance and music by taking action to ensure that in Scotland we continue to have a world-class institution for our drama and music students?

The member will be aware that Parliament passed legislation, which she supported, to establish the Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Council. That legislation makes it clear that as a minister, I cannot direct independent institutions. However, in a letter that I sent to the chair of the funding council, John McClelland, on 25 January 2008, setting out strategic guidance—I am allowed to do that under the legislation—I stated:

"My priorities for the university sector are:

- growth in undergraduate and taught post-graduate numbers (for excellence in the performing arts, including dance; Crichton; and rural healthcare)".

I also provided for a 4.8 per cent increase in funding for the academy in 2008-09, which is greater than both the inflation rate and the 3.4 per cent increase in funding for the university sector as a whole. That shows that we are supporting the academy. I recognise the tributes that the member has paid to it, but we must respect the right of individual institutions to carry out restructuring. That is a matter for institutions to explore, but they must do so in consultation with staff and unions.