SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE
Rural Affairs and the Environment
Foot-and-mouth Disease (Livestock Industry)
To ask the Scottish Executive what new measures it will take to promote a sustainable livestock industry after the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak ends. (S3O-982)
We recognise the difficulties for the livestock industry, especially the sheep sector, which has been particularly badly hit by foot-and-mouth disease. The package that I announced yesterday will assist the industry, both in the short and in the longer term.
I am delighted that the settlement for Scotland—whose agricultural sector is half the size of England's sector—is much larger than the rescue package down south. Does the cabinet secretary agree that, after the analysis of Professor Scudamore's review of the foot-and-mouth crisis, it will be in Scotland's best interest to maintain livestock production throughout the country; that we must adopt principles for our livestock industry that include fair prices for producers and consumers, growing tasty food that is good to eat and ensuring that our food does not pollute or incur unnecessary food miles; and that those principles can be summed up as a food sovereignty policy for Scotland?
I agree with everything that the member said, and that is why the Scottish Government is determined to take forward the concept of a Scottish food policy, which is attracting widespread support throughout Scotland. The foot-and-mouth crisis over the past two or three months has highlighted a number of issues that should be taken into account by a food policy to help to localise food production in Scotland.
One of the concerns in the Highlands and Islands is the reduction in sheep and cattle numbers because of changes in common agricultural policy payments. There is a concern that the reduction will accelerate because of the recent difficulties in the marketplace. The loss of cattle in particular in certain areas will affect the very rich habitat there. What is the minister doing to assess the potential impact of those changes in the countryside? What measures will he consider taking to help to counteract the adverse changes that might take place, and when might he be in a position to report to Parliament on those matters?
We are extremely keen to take forward the issues to which the member referred and to debate them in the chamber, while also taking into account the industry's interests. The package that was announced yesterday is partly intended to instil confidence in the livestock sector that the Scottish Government cares about the future and believes that there is a bright, prosperous future for the sector in Scotland. That is why we brought forward the £25 million investment.
We all recognise the benefits of the islands' unique biosecure position. However, in the circumstances of a food-and-mouth outbreak occurring again at a similar time of year—I hope that it does not— would the cabinet secretary consider measures to accelerate the timescale during which breeding rams could be brought to the islands, if that proved necessary, during the final stages of movement restrictions?
The short answer is yes. Professor Scudamore's review of Scotland's response to the foot-and-mouth crisis will take into account the issues to which Alasdair Allan referred. I urge him and other members to contribute to the review.
I welcome the package, which rightly focuses on sheep. However, is the cabinet secretary working on a package for cattle and pigs, which have also been badly affected by the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak?
We continue to have virtually daily contact with all the livestock sectors in Scotland, given that there have been ramifications for cattle, pigs and sheep. The purpose of the package that was announced yesterday is to target assistance where, given the circumstances, it is most desperately needed, which is the sheep sector. There is widespread support for targeting the package at that sector. However, we are maintaining a close dialogue with the cattle and pig sectors. I have already agreed to meet the pig industry leaders next week to see how we can assist it.
Lanarkshire Flooding
To ask the Scottish Executive how much additional funding has been made available to address flooding in Lanarkshire. (S3O-933)
A total of £42 million has been made available to local authorities for 2007-08 to support their flood prevention and coast protection programmes. It is for the local authorities in Lanarkshire and elsewhere to come forward with suitable schemes to take up those resources.
The minister may or may not be aware that a new grammar school is being built in Uddingston, in my constituency, under the previous Executive's proposals to refurbish and rebuild dilapidated schools. The local community will very soon benefit from the building of the new high school, but prior to it being built some of the minister's colleagues in the Scottish National Party have been scaremongering in the local community. They claim that the development will create flooding. Can the minister assure me that that is not the case? Does he have any evidence from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency that there will be flooding as a consequence of the development? If he does, can he assure South Lanarkshire Council that he will make additional funding available to rebuild the bund, which would address the problem of any potential flooding?
It is for the planning authority to decide whether a building or a scheme will create additional flooding problems or be subject to flooding. I would have expected the local authority—which, if my memory serves me correctly, I believe is controlled by the party of the member who asks the question—to have taken those matters into account before it gave permission. If it did so, there can surely be no question of additional resources being required for flooding. If it did not do so, and such resources are required, the local authority will be required to apply in the usual way.
Sites of Special Scientific Interest (Designation)
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any plans to review the procedure for designating sites of special scientific interest. (S3O-985)
The sites of special scientific interest system in Scotland was thoroughly reviewed by the previous Administration prior to the introduction of the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004. There are no plans for a further full review, but I continue to have discussions regarding designation and public involvement in the process—issues about which I am profoundly concerned.
I draw the minister's attention to the problems experienced by a constituent of mine in the Bonnybridge area. During the assessment period used by Scottish Natural Heritage to consider whether to designate part of his land as an SSSI, it used a battery of experts to put the case together to support the application. However, as an individual landowner, he had no support or advice from any experts. Does the minister agree that there is a need to ensure that there is equality of arms in dealing with such issues? Finally, can the minister confirm that a compensation system is available to farmers who lose access to part of their land?
I am familiar with the issues raised by Mr Matheson; indeed, I have made a commitment to meet him and his constituent shortly to discuss the matter. There is considerable concern where there is no equity in the process. It will be necessary to consider that point as we have that discussion.
Agri-environment Management Agreements
To ask the Scottish Executive how it reached its decision not to provide funding in 2007 for agri-environment management agreements expiring this year. (S3O-917)
After careful consideration of all possible solutions, it was clear that an absence of applicable European Union and domestic legal powers meant that any extension of the agreements would not be legally competent.
I am sure that the minister will appreciate the seriousness of the concerns expressed by all rural interests about the hiatus in agri-environment funding. Can we be assured that the Administration has explored every avenue to find a solution to the problem, including approaching the European Commission to amend the inadequate transition arrangements, which allowed only a one-year extension to agreements that expired in 2006?
We agree that this is a serious issue. Our farmers have a key role to play in protecting and enhancing our environment. The agri-environment schemes that have so far been introduced have been popular and effective, which is why the new rural development programme will contain considerable resources for successor schemes.
The cabinet secretary will recall that I wrote to him on this issue earlier this month. I have noted his comments in response to Karen Gillon's questions. Does he recognise the real risk of many farmers who have achieved a great deal in maintaining and enhancing the environment in Orkney and elsewhere losing confidence in the agri-environment schemes as a result of the situation? What contacts has he had with his counterparts in Europe, who, I understand, have been able to make payments in advance of rural development programmes being approved?
We must be certain of two things. First, we would need a legal basis if we were to extend existing programmes and, as I said in my initial answer, we do not have that at the moment. Secondly, we must take into account the huge diversion of resources that would occur within the Scottish Government if we continued some of the schemes and reopened the existing agri-environment schemes for one-year extensions. My officials and their resources are currently dedicated to ensuring that the new rural development programme comes into play as soon as possible, and we do not want it to be delayed further. We also have single farm payments and less favoured area support scheme payments to arrange and, of course, we now have the emergency aid package for the sheep sector to implement.
The cabinet secretary stated that he is optimistic that the new rural development programme will shortly be approved. However, even if it is, farmers will not receive funding until late 2008. Does he agree that that is an unacceptable gap for an industry that is suffering a great deal of financial uncertainty? Can he not make at-risk payments as continuation funding for the projects, as he is considering doing with the LFASS?
John Scott will be aware that we inherited a situation in which the delay was occurring anyway due to the European Parliament not agreeing the voluntary modulation package. The situation has been unavoidable for the Scottish Government, but we are keen to explore all avenues to avoid any more inconvenience for farmers who are affected by any potential delay in getting the schemes up and running again. We will continue to explore the options.
Recycling Targets
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will set increased recycling targets. (S3O-967)
The existing target in the national waste plan, which we inherited, is to recycle or compost 55 per cent of waste by 2020. We are considering the way forward on waste management as part of the spending review and in light of the recent waste summit. We are committed to increasing recycling and to waste prevention.
I am sure that the cabinet secretary agrees that it is important to work with local authorities to do that. He may be aware that the City of Edinburgh Council has set its own target of recycling 75 per cent of waste by 2020. Will he confirm that the Government will work with councils that set individual targets, thereby allowing councils and the Government to take specific local issues into account? Will the Government continue to assist councils such as the City of Edinburgh Council that have high numbers of tenements and high-rise flats to extend and improve kerbside recycling?
I welcome the ambitious target set by the City of Edinburgh Council and I hope that other local authorities in Scotland will follow suit. We will continue to work closely with local authorities in Scotland. It is in all our interests and the interest of the environment that we increase recycling as soon as possible to preserve our precious resources.
The minister may be aware of recent research that suggests that, in different local authority areas in Scotland, there is a strong correlation between disadvantage and the lowest carbon use, but that the reverse applies to recycling.
I agree that we need to give greater prominence to the carbon footprints of each local authority in Scotland. The Scottish Government has to work in partnership with local authorities to do what we can locally to reduce our national carbon footprint.
Foot-and-mouth Disease (Farmers and Crofters)
To ask the Scottish Executive what the latest position is on the action it is taking to minimise the impact on farmers and crofters of the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Surrey. (S3O-964)
I am extremely concerned about the serious financial difficulties that the livestock sector is experiencing as a result of foot-and-mouth disease in Surrey, which is why I announced yesterday a package of measures that is designed to support the industry through these difficult times and beyond.
Will the cabinet secretary reflect on the remarks that he made yesterday about the state of the welfare crisis that exists not just for light lambs but for other classes of sheep? Does he accept that the president of the Shetland branch of the National Farmers Union Scotland, the chairman of the Crofters Commission and the chairman of the Shetland Livestock Marketing Group—who are all practical farmers and crofters—consider that there is a significant issue with the welfare of hill ewes and cast ewes in the islands? I have no doubt that that is also true in other parts of Scotland.
The member has raised the issue with me several times. The farmers on Shetland are making strong representations to him and, indeed, to me as cabinet secretary.
I ask the cabinet secretary to comment in detail on the tiering and structure of the headage payment scheme for ewes that he announced yesterday. I raised the matter in my speech in the agriculture debate yesterday. When I met crofters yesterday, they were most concerned that, without tiering in the scheme, crofters and farmers in our most fragile rural areas might lose out. Will the cabinet secretary take the time to outline his thoughts on that to the Parliament today?
That is an important point. I am well aware of the crofters' representations on the issue. The scheme that we are introducing provides a headage payment of £6 per breeding ewe and gimmer. That is a flat rate—there is no banding. We decided on that approach because it is an emergency scheme and we had to opt for the scheme that we could put in place most quickly. We had many representations from different sectors of the livestock industry, and I am afraid that it was not easy to keep everyone happy. I am sure that the member understands the pressures that we are under, given the background to the foot-and-mouth crisis in Scotland. We believe that we put forward the best, most effective scheme in the time that was available.
Foot-and-mouth Disease (Sheep Sector)
To ask the Scottish Executive what additional support it can provide for the sheep sector to help it recover from the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak. (S3O-949)
Without repeating yourself, minister.
I am extremely concerned about the serious financial difficulties that the sheep sector is experiencing as a result of foot-and-mouth disease. I will leave it at that.
In the light of the measures that were announced yesterday, which have been welcomed by the farming community but which many people feel offer only partial compensation, will the minister pursue the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for further compensation? Also, in the light of the threat of bluetongue disease, will the minister update the farming community on what progress is being made on developing a vaccine for bluetongue? When will it be ready? Will he advocate a nationwide vaccination programme for Scottish livestock?
I thank the member for those two questions. The first related to compensation. I make it clear to the chamber that we are making the strongest possible representations to the United Kingdom Government—yet again—to persuade it of its moral and financial responsibility to compensate Scotland's farmers for this crisis. The crisis is having a huge and devastating impact, and is, of course, outwith the control of the farmers. We are making representations, not only that Scotland should be reimbursed for the emergency schemes that we introduced yesterday, but that the compensation case put forward by Scotland's farmers should be addressed.
Health and Well-being
Fuel Poverty (Backcharging)
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken, or will take, to address fuel poverty resulting from the policy of energy suppliers to backcharge prepayment meter customers. (S3O-905)
Our fuel poverty programmes continue to help thousands of Scots to improve the energy efficiency of their homes, making them warmer and more affordable to heat.
The minister will be aware that Scottish Power in particular continues to target prepayment meter customers by collecting backcharges that have arisen through the company's inability to reset meters following 13 price rises. That has plunged many vulnerable people into debt.
I understand those comments and I understand the emotions raised by this issue. On the face of it, it is difficult to understand why debts have been written off in some areas but not in others.
Health Needs (Ethnic and Religious Minorities)
To ask the Scottish Executive what importance it places on the specific health needs of ethnic and religious minorities. (S3O-975)
Improving the health of all Scotland's people and tackling health inequalities wherever they exist is at the top of our priorities.
Is the minister aware of the current gap in the service that the national health service provides for parents who wish to circumcise their children for religious reasons? In my constituency, the waiting list for the service can be as long as two years. That often leads Scottish parents either to travel down to England or to pay a higher price for the service to be carried out privately. Clearly, that is a difficult situation for parents to be in. Is she prepared to discuss the issue further with me to examine how the current service can be improved?
I am well aware, not least because of my constituency interest, of the importance of the issue to the Muslim community. I absolutely agree that waiting times for the procedure have been excessively long—indeed, they are up to three years in some cases in Glasgow. The main reason for those waiting lists was that availability status codes were applied to the procedure. The fact that the Government is abolishing availability status codes will mean that all patients will now be treated within the maximum waiting time guarantees. We will also work to improve referral patterns, which will help to reduce waiting times further. We are working to raise awareness of the procedures in the Muslim community and to ensure that NHS staff are properly trained so that they can give appropriate advice to parents.
I thank the minister for her answer to Bashir Ahmad's question. We will be watching to ensure that those waiting lists decline as she has promised that they will.
I can give Margaret Curran an absolute assurance that the Government will continue the previous Executive's commitment to ensuring that equalities are mainstreamed across the whole Executive. The equality unit is indeed central to ensuring that that happens. As she will be aware, I represent the constituency with the biggest ethnic minority population in the country so, both as a constituency member and as Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing, I am acutely aware of the importance of equalities.
Hospitals (Access)
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure access to hospitals for all sections of the community. (S3O-922)
Our discussion document "Better Health, Better Care" is generating debate on how we can put the expectations of people and patients at the heart of decision making in NHS Scotland. It will lead us to publish an action plan by the end of this year that sets out our priorities for health and well-being. Discussion is focusing on how we can help people to sustain and improve their health, especially in disadvantaged communities, and on how to ensure better, local and faster access to health care.
The minister will be aware of the furore among employees and communities about Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS Board's car parking charge proposals. Does she agree that the proposals discriminate against lower-paid employees and those sections of the community who need treatment or want to visit people in hospital but cannot afford to pay the charges? Will she give a commitment to take action to prevent the health board from imposing this punitive levy on people who will not be able to access hospitals if it is introduced?
I am aware of what Hugh Henry describes as the furore that NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde's proposals have caused. I am also aware that national health service boards, including NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, are operating within the guidance that the previous Administration issued on car parking charges. I have expressed openly my concern about aspects of car parking policy. That is why I have set up a review group to examine the guidance and to submit recommendations for change to me. I hope that that will produce a much better balance between the pressures that NHS boards face and ensuring fairness and equity for patients, visitors and the wider public.
School Nurses
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it still intends to implement the 2007 Scottish National Party manifesto pledge to double the number of school nurses. (S3O-959)
We are currently examining options for taking forward that manifesto pledge.
Here we go again. The SNP made a clear and unambiguous commitment to double the number of school nurses, just as it committed itself to providing an additional 1,000 police officers. It is backtracking again. Can Scotland's schools anticipate even the equivalent of twice as many school nurses? Is this the unveiling of the Government's latest broken promise?
We have a bit of a rent-a-speech going on here. We are currently considering options for delivering our manifesto commitment. We are looking at the best model for delivering the increased school-based health resource that we want in order to improve our children's health. We want to give priority to children in the most disadvantaged areas. I am sure that members will appreciate that it is important to ensure that the model is correct before we roll out the policy. I assure Jim Tolson that we will take it forward—something that the previous Administration, of which the Liberal Democrats were part, did not do.
Affordable Housing
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to assist local authorities to meet sustainable targets for the construction of affordable housing for purchase and rent. (S3O-947)
Proposals for improving the supply of affordable housing will be set out in our forthcoming discussion document on the future of housing in Scotland.
I am sure that the document will give a warm welcome to an initiative by Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who earlier this year announced plans to build five new eco-towns. The PM hoped that one of those towns—offering 20,000 new homes, each constructed to environmentally zero-carbon standards—would be built in Scotland. A Scottish National Party spokesman welcomed the announcement, but since then we have heard nothing. What steps has the minister taken to encourage Scottish councils to bid to host an eco-town? If, as I suspect, the answer is none, will he join me in encouraging East Dunbartonshire Council—my local authority—to do so, given the severe shortage of housing for rent in my constituency?
Councils are free to bid to host one of the eco-towns that the United Kingdom Government has proposed. I cannot discuss the contents of the forthcoming housing consultation document, but I am sure that David Whitton and many other members from all parties will be interested in what it contains and will take part in the consultation that will follow its publication. I am sure that many aspects of the paper will be of great interest not only to David Whitton but to his constituents.
I sincerely hope that the paper will not be of interest only to David Whitton's constituents, although I am sure that they are lovely people. In Edinburgh 25,000 of my constituents are waiting on the council housing list. In Edinburgh, we are very good at building houses, but will the Government make it easier for the City of Edinburgh Council to build council houses, as Midlothian Council is doing? Will the Government explain to Gordon Brown and Alistair Darling that they must give the same opportunity to the City of Edinburgh Council that they have given to Midlothian Council, by cancelling the council housing debt that Edinburgh still carries because tenants voted against stock transfer?
As I have said before in the chamber, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth wrote to the Treasury on 26 September to ask about the circumstances—other than housing stock transfer—in which it would consider writing off local authority housing debt. We have not yet received a response from the Treasury.
I preface my remarks by saying that I know that the minister is not John Swinney and that he will not be making comprehensive spending review decisions. However, I want to ask him about his responsibilities.
Our commitment to the affordable housing programme in Scotland will be shown by our real commitment to dealing with the crisis that we have been left, which was created by what the previous Administration did over the past eight years. I guarantee that, with the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing, I have made strong representations to ensure that housing is a Government priority. We have made that clear. I am sure that when the spending review is published in November and when the housing consultation document is published in the next week or two, our commitment to housing will be clear.
Health Spending Priorities
To ask the Scottish Executive what spending priorities have been allocated to health in the 2007 strategic spending review. (S3O-924)
Spending plans to deliver our purpose, objectives and commitments will be announced in the late autumn.
I thank the cabinet secretary for her brief answer.
Of course, NHS Lanarkshire also proposed to close the accident and emergency unit at Monklands hospital, which many Labour members intensely opposed. I am proud that the Government decided to reverse that wrong-headed move and to save the unit. Many people in Lanarkshire are delighted with that decision. I repeat what I said when I made an announcement about that: I expect NHS Lanarkshire to ensure that, as well as retaining accident and emergency services, it invests in primary and community services, because there was underinvestment in those services in that part of Scotland under the previous Administration. As a new minister with responsibility for health, I do not intend to repeat the mistakes made by the previous Administration.
I am grateful to be able to raise a constituency matter by means of a supplementary question.
I am aware of Jamie Stone's concern about ambulance cover in Sutherland. During its annual review, I discussed with the Scottish Ambulance Service the many challenges that it faces in delivering sustainable ambulance services in remote and rural areas. I will continue to discuss those issues with it, and I am more than happy to discuss them further with Jamie Stone.
Mental health was a priority of the previous Executive. Is it still a priority? How will the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing ensure that the strategic spending review reflects that priority?
As Mary Scanlon knows, I cannot go into detail about the spending review, but all those matters will become clear over the next few weeks. Mental health remains a priority for this Government; indeed, the Minister for Public Health will speak at a World Health Organization conference on mental health later today. One of our manifesto commitments was to reduce the prescription of antidepressants, which is one of many important aspects of ensuring that we have the right range of services for people with mental health difficulties.
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