Meeting of the Parliament

Meeting date: Thursday, May 24, 2012

Official Report 1121KB pdf

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Scottish Executive Question Time

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General Questions

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Rural Policing

1. To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will undertake an audit of rural policing resources and police stations prior to the establishment of a single police force. (S4O-01029)

The police service, under the leadership of Chief Constable Kevin Smith, is collecting information on policing resources, including police stations, as part of the work to create the police service of Scotland.

The cabinet secretary will acknowledge that in recent years a considerable number of key stations have closed down; in some cases, they have been sold. What assurances can he give that the formation of a single police force will not mean a further reduction in the essential local policing that rural areas require?

I can give the member that assurance. I am aware of her concerns. The intention behind having a single service is to ensure that in the face of swingeing cuts, we manage to preserve the integrity of the police service in Scotland and provide the necessary resources to cover a variety of matters in all parts of Scotland, and not in just those areas in which there is perhaps some critical mass.

Equally, we are conscious of the old adage that all policing is local. It is important that policing remains that way, and it is therefore our intention that the information will be available to boards and to the new police authorities that are coming in at local authority level. We can trust in their good judgment, as we can trust those who will be on the Scottish police authority and the new chief constable—whoever he or she is—to ensure that the local, visible police presence that has resulted in a 35-year low in recorded crime is maintained.

Does the cabinet secretary share my view that there is a strong case for hubs in the current Northern Constabulary and Grampian Police force areas, which emphasises the comparative advantage that they would bring to a single police force in relation to, for example, rural roads policing, wildlife crime, finance and information technology?

Those are ultimately operational matters for the police service. I have never interfered with the structure of the eight current forces and I would not do so with a single service.

The member’s point has been made previously by those who have been pursuing the benefits of a single police service in Scotland. It is not about centralising everything into one hub but about ensuring that we have flexibility. It is equally about ensuring that all areas of Scotland are covered, given the geography of the country.

Some of the member’s points will be taken on board by those who are involved in the restructuring.

I am sure that the justice secretary will be aware that Kevin Smith recently attended a meeting in Inverness at which concerns about the threat of police staff job losses and centralisation of support services were clearly expressed. What assurances can he provide to those in the Northern Constabulary region about those concerns, particularly in relation to Orkney, where staffing levels and station provision are back at what could be considered bare minimum levels? What guarantee can he offer that a single force will not result in a reduction in staffing or station provision?

The Government has made it clear that there is a correlation between the record number of police officers and the 35-year low in recorded crime. It is our intention to maintain the 1,000 additional officers, not simply numerically but in terms of their contribution in our communities. In restructuring, as we go from eight services to one, it is accepted that some civilian jobs cannot be justified. Such matters, whether in human resources or in other areas, are part of the cost saving that will be made as a result of restructuring.

We recognise the importance of the wider police family and, as I have said previously, the importance in Orkney of maintaining at least the rank of the current chief inspector who is based there when we have divisional commanders, and of maintaining the numbers, which, I recall, is something like 26 in the Orkney Islands. All that will be dealt with. I have no doubt that those who serve in the wider police family by carrying out civilian tasks will be equally required post restructuring.

However, in other areas in Scotland, whether in relation to communications or human resources, we simply cannot continue to do things eight times over, because we cannot justify the cost. On that basis, we will preserve the visible police presence in our communities, whether in Orkney or our major cities.

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Prisons (Independent Monitoring)

2. To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made to ensure the continued independent monitoring of prisons. (S4O-01030)

My officials have worked closely with Her Majesty’s chief inspector of prisons in Scotland to develop a statutory monitoring service that will be both operationally and financially integrated within the inspectorate and which will report to HM chief inspector of prisons. The new service will be split on a geographical basis and carried out regularly by three monitors. I consider that to be proportionate to facilitate regular monitoring in Scotland’s prisons and that it will create a more robust reporting mechanism.

Currently, the independent monitoring of prisons is significantly enhanced by prison visiting committees, which provide cost-effective access for prisoners to independent advice. Can the cabinet secretary reassure me that the new arrangements will embrace those twin virtues of cost effectiveness and independence, and that those will be protected?

Absolutely—I can give that assurance. I understand the member’s concerns. I again pay tribute to those who have served on visiting committees. The Government has taken action to develop an advocacy service, which we think is necessary to deal with offenders’ needs, particularly those who are part of the churn of constant reoffending. Another aspect of the work of visiting committees is independent monitoring. I give the member an assurance that the system that will be provided within the office of HM inspectorate will be independent, will have the appropriate skills and information and will meet the requirements that she and others understandably seek.

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Flood Prevention (Scotland) Act 1961

3. To ask the Scottish Government whether a scheme promoted under the Flood Prevention (Scotland) Act 1961, which does not yet have confirmed statutory consents, will be eligible for grant support, including beyond the current spending review period, and to a level of 80 per cent of eligible costs. (S4O-01031)

The Government and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities agreed last year that the flooding component of the general capital grant for the spending review period would be distributed for large schemes and by application. The first round prioritised confirmed Flood Prevention (Scotland) Act 1961 schemes with planning consent. An announcement regarding a further round of applications is likely to be made towards the end of this year.

The minister will be well aware that my concern is about the flood prevention scheme in Brechin in my constituency. What assurances can the minister give that, as that scheme and the many others like it in Scotland get the appropriate consents, money will be available, subject to the 80 per cent limit and the availability of funds?

I need to be careful, because there is a planning issue. I understand that there is an objection to the flood prevention scheme to which the member refers and which the council in the area has submitted. It is important that, through that process and the planning system, we make progress towards a scheme that is implementable. I am willing to talk further when the process is complete and we have a scheme that can be implemented. Of course, it will be necessary for the scheme to demonstrate a positive cost benefit ratio, and the commencement of the scheme will have to be within the spending review period.

In view of on-going concerns about flooding in parts of my region such as at Whitesands in Dumfries and in Peebles, can the minister give the Parliament details about Scottish Government research projects on flooding and say how those will help with flooding mitigation in the south of Scotland and more broadly in Scotland, and how that connects with the land-use strategy?

For the first time we have a national picture of the distribution and potential effects of floods, which will help us to focus resources where they will be required and target our efforts on areas where the greatest benefit can be gained.

The member is correct to make a link to land use. Part of what we will do in that context is look at the role of natural flooding to relieve water pressures on urban and developed areas that are affected by flooding. The natural systems that can help us will therefore form part of our consideration under the land-use heading.

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Air Rifles (Regulation of Use)

4. To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to introduce legislation regulating the use of air rifles. (S4O-01032)

Yes. We have a long-standing commitment to address the misuse of air weapons and we will bring forward legislation to regulate their ownership and use at the earliest possible opportunity.

With frequent reports of attacks on members of the emergency services such as fire brigade and ambulance staff, among others, does the minister agree that there is a need to control better who can possess those potentially lethal weapons and to introduce some form of licensing without delay and as soon as the intended devolution of the power to do so makes that possible?

Absolutely. Sadly, people have been using those weapons entirely inappropriately. I say for the record that I recently met the parents of Andrew Morton and gave them the same commitment that I give members. I also pay tribute to Andrew’s parents for their efforts to ensure that we bring in an appropriate regulation scheme.

Air rifles are not toys: they hurt, maim and, tragically, even kill, as we know all too well. It is the Government’s intention to bring in a regulation scheme that will license new weapons. We are working with the consultative committee to ensure that we take on board the legitimate use of air rifles by those who have to deal with pests and control vermin and those who are members of legitimate, authorised sporting clubs. However, the days of taking those weapons out and using them entirely inappropriately in housing schemes must end. We owe it to the memory of Andrew Morton to ensure that action is taken on that.

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Fife Energy Park (Foundry)

5. To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on RGR Foundry Ltd’s plans to build a new foundry at Fife energy park in order to supply the offshore wind market. (S4O-01033)

The Scottish Government is fully supportive of RGR Foundry Ltd’s plans to build a new foundry at Fife energy park as that will create an opportunity to develop a large-scale cast components facility for the offshore wind industry. That will be crucial in building on Scotland’s success in attracting major investment in our offshore wind sector.

Samsung, 2-B Energy, BiFab, the Hydrogen Office and RGR Foundry are just some of the companies that are investing in Fife energy park. Given that investments in the renewable energy sector provide a much-needed boost to the local economy, including important employment opportunities, what further support can the Scottish Government offer?

Our enterprise agencies are fully involved in the development of different business opportunities at the Fife energy park. The park is a source of enormous investment. There is also enormous excitement about what the facility can create for the Scottish economy.

Scottish Development International is working with RGR Foundry to explore how regional selective assistance could be utilised to assist the development of the project. SDI has also brokered discussions between RGR Foundry and wind turbine companies that are looking to set up in Scotland. Those are just two examples of the areas in which SDI and our other agencies can provide assistance. That assistance is available in a variety of different locations around the country.

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NHS Ayrshire and Arran (Patient Care)

6. To ask the Scottish Government what it considers the most significant improvements have been to patient care in the Ayrshire and Arran national health service board area since 2007. (S4O-01034)

A range of significant improvements have been made to patient care in Ayrshire and Arran since 2007.

There have been big improvements in the priority area of infection control. For instance, between 2007 and 2011 the number of Clostridium difficile cases fell by 66 per cent. On waiting times, although there are no comparable figures for 2007, in December 2011 some 91 per cent of patients were being treated within 18 weeks of referral—up from 72 per cent in January 2011.

My first act as health secretary in 2007 was to overturn the previous Administration’s decision to close the accident and emergency department at Ayr hospital. That has meant that local people have continued to benefit from the A and E unit and its full range of support services, with around 43,000 attendances every year.

Will the cabinet secretary confirm that NHS Ayrshire and Arran has launched a pre-planning consultation to build a new 206-bed hospital in North Ayrshire to provide state-of-the-art care and rehabilitation for adult mental health patients? Can she inform members what the impact of that will be in improving the delivery of mental health care in Ayrshire and Arran in the years ahead?

I confirm the ambition of NHS Ayrshire and Arran to deliver real improvements for patients with mental health issues. Kenny Gibson mentioned the plans to build a new hospital, which will provide state-of-the art, high-quality care for those who require hospital treatment. In tandem with that, NHS Ayrshire and Arran—in common with other health boards—is developing community services so that people can be as well supported as possible within the community. That reflects the vast improvements in mental health that we have seen in recent years. However, as members will be aware from our on-going work around our mental health strategy, there is still more work to do. Developments such as those in NHS Ayrshire and Arran are examples of that further work.

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Aberdeen City Council (Planning)

7. To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the Minister for Local Government and Planning has had with Aberdeen City Council regarding its plans to improve public buildings. (S4O-01035)

I have had no formal discussions with Aberdeen City Council on its plans to improve public buildings.

Given that the redevelopment of Aberdeen art gallery is contingent on the use of tax increment financing, does the minister agree that Labour’s undemocratic decision to overturn the referendum on the city garden project could scupper the prospect of that redevelopment? Does he also agree that the Labour-Tory-independent council administration would do better to invest in Aberdeen’s infrastructure instead of rewarding itself with pay rises and plush offices?

The Scottish Government has made it clear that it is up to Aberdeen City Council to decide whether to proceed with using tax increment financing for the city garden project, and that continues to be the case. In view of the referendum, it would be very disappointing if the city council did not take that opportunity.

Does the minister agree that it is for Aberdeen City Council to determine how best to improve public buildings and community-owned assets in the city? If so, will he have an early meeting with Aberdeen City Council in that spirit to offer support from the Scottish Government for the improvement of the city and the public realm in Aberdeen?

Mr Macdonald is absolutely right. I would be the first to say that, as an independent corporate body, the council will make that decision. However, it would be wise to listen to the people of Aberdeen, who voted in a democratic referendum to proceed with that project. Perhaps the council would be wise to listen to its electorate’s views on pay rises for elected members as well.

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Scottish Enterprise (Meetings)

8. To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met Scottish Enterprise. (S4O-01036)

I last met Scottish Enterprise at a meeting of the industry group chairs that took place on 30 March. Scottish Government officials meet their counterparts in Scottish Enterprise regularly to discuss a range of subjects.

What would be the annual cost of additional business rates paid by Scottish Enterprise as a result of the proposed legislation on unoccupied properties?

I will have to write to Mr Brown with the specific detail on that.

The Government’s proposals on empty property relief are designed to provide every incentive to ensure that business rents are set at an appropriate level to encourage occupancy and growth in the economy and to get companies active in the economy to create jobs. I am surprised that the Conservatives are so obstructive of such a good objective from the Government.

At his next meeting with Scottish Enterprise, will the minister discuss match-funding and whether something additional can be done to help those who invent extremely useful products for Scotland’s future?

Along with its counterpart, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Scottish Enterprise establishes clear working relationships with individual companies, many of which produce the inventions and creative solutions to which Linda Fabiani referred, and works out how they can best be supported in taking their products to market.

Under the approach set out by ministers, the enterprise agencies are required to ensure that the companies are well supported both through the business gateway system, in partnership with our local authority colleagues, and by the enterprise agencies directly. If Linda Fabiani is referring to any specific companies that she thinks could benefit from further support from Scottish Enterprise, ministers would be only too happy to mention them to Scottish Enterprise for further investigation.