Winchburgh Tunnel (Closure)
To ask the Scottish Government how it will support travellers facing disruption due to the closure of the Winchburgh tunnel in summer 2015. (S4O-04051)
Network Rail and ScotRail are working closely together to ensure that the Edinburgh to Glasgow improvement programme—EGIP—electrification of the line at the Winchburgh tunnel is delivered with the minimum disruption possible to the travelling public and that connections are maintained during the closure.
The closure of the Winchburgh tunnel coincides with the Scottish open championship in St Andrews. If the Dalmeny chord had been electrified before the tunnel’s closure, as was planned before 2012, trains would have been able to run via Dalmeny without reversing and disruption could therefore have been avoided. Does the minister agree that the disruption on the railways during the summer could have been avoided had the Scottish Government decided not to scale back EGIP in 2012?
I do not agree with that assessment. There would have been disruption in any event.
We recognise that there will be some disruption, because work on a live railway always incurs some disruption, but we are focused on keeping it to a minimum. We will ensure that information is in the public domain to support the travelling public in making the right journeys.
I accept that that will cause some difficulty, but the overall EGIP project surely must be welcomed. It will lead to improved journey times, better trains and a much more efficient service. The disruption will be worth it, but we will do our best to keep it to a minimum.
I advise Mary Fee that, this morning, I have set up a briefing for all MSPs who might be interested to hear about the full scale of EGIP and the benefits that it will bring to Scotland.
Medical Records (Access)
To ask the Scottish Government what provisions there are for parents to access the medical records of their children. (S4O-04052)
A person who has parental responsibility for a young child can request access to the child’s medical records. A young person in Scotland aged 12 or above is generally considered mature enough to understand what a subject access request is. They can make their own request and would need to provide their consent to allow their parents to make a request for them.
I asked the question on behalf of a constituent who, along with her husband, waited eight weeks and paid £60 to access her daughter’s medical records. She and her husband were told that the communications about her daughter’s diagnosis and treatment would be shared with health professionals, but no names or titles were given.
My constituent makes the point that, as a teacher and named person, she is entitled to see the medical records of other children and to know who is receiving them, but that is not the case for her own daughter’s records. Does the minister believe that that is acceptable?
Liz Smith will appreciate that it is difficult for me to comment on the circumstances of a specific case without knowing the full details. I refer her to the initial answer that I gave. It was not clear from her question whether the youngster involved is aged 12 or under but, if a person has parental responsibility for a young child, they should be able to request the records, and I would certainly expect such a request to be fulfilled.
National Museums Scotland (Meetings)
To ask the Scottish Government when it last met the senior management of National Museums Scotland and what issues were discussed. (S4O-04053)
I met the chair and the director of National Museums Scotland on 4 December 2014 to discuss strategic priorities for the next few years.
Is the cabinet secretary aware of the growing anger among staff about changes to the weekend working allowance, which have created a two-tier workforce at National Museums Scotland? I tell her with regret that the management’s approach is widely viewed by the workforce as arrogant and dictatorial, given that the changes were introduced without any prior engagement with the trade unions.
I welcome the interest that the cabinet secretary has taken in the matter and her continuing willingness to engage constructively with the staff and the employer. I urge her to continue to encourage NMS to reach a resolution to the dispute.
Jim Eadie will be aware that it is not ministers’ job to interfere with employee-employer relations. However, there are concerns about the issue, which he has raised with me on a number of occasions.
When I met the management and the chair of NMS in March and December last year, I made clear the Government’s expectations about the standard, style and tenor of negotiations that should take place. I can say that progress has been made. In addition, I met members of the Public and Commercial Services Union and other trade unions in October and November.
My understanding from the most recent dialogue between the union side and the management in December is that progress has been made in discussions on a number of issues, including bringing forward the introduction of the living wage from August to April and the extension of the no-compulsory-redundancies policy from 2014-15 to 2015-16.
There are issues around the weekend allowance, which was changed in 2011. Staff who already receive that allowance will continue to receive it. The discussions on that are continuing. As recently as December, discussions were held on issues such as rotas, time off and leave.
I absolutely value the contribution that the staff and the management of NMS make. This week, it was announced that the national museum of Scotland was the most visited tourist attraction in Scotland for the fourth year in a row. We should all put on record our thanks to the staff in particular, but also to the management, for contributing to that success.
There still appears to be a challenge when it comes to the minister’s general aspirations and support for our magnificent museums service and the reality of the staff’s day-to-day experience. I raised the increase in part-time working in the museum with the minister last year, when she said that she could not take a prescriptive interest in the conditions of staff.
Having well-trained and committed staff is an issue given the cost of living in Edinburgh. PCS members have major concerns that their terms and conditions have been limited and that that is causing major hardship for many of the staff.
As I set out, nobody’s pay has been reduced as a result of the decision that was taken back in 2011. I agree that it is important that we have good and constructive relations between management and trade unions and that we have on-going dialogue. I have facilitated and encouraged that.
In my answer to the first question, I did not relay the fact that NMS shop staff, who are not party to Government pay policy, are now receiving the living wage, because the management recognised that that was the right thing to do.
Across the board, progress is being made. I know that there are frustrations, some of which are historical, but I am certain that the commitment that the management have given me to engage constructively, particularly with local PCS members, will be taken forward. I will monitor the situation closely.
Tax Avoidance
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the First Minister’s comment that there should be “zero tolerance” on tax avoidance, what policy changes it plans to make. (S4O-04054)
The Scottish Government is determined to act decisively on tax avoidance where we have powers to do so. Tax avoidance is not welcome in Scotland. We have legislated for a general anti-avoidance rule for the devolved taxes, which is significantly wider than the United Kingdom’s general anti-abuse rule, and that will enable Revenue Scotland to take robust action to counteract tax avoidance. As I have said previously in the Parliament, the Scottish Government is always open to considering ways in which we can strengthen our already robust approach to tackling tax avoidance in relation to devolved taxes.
The Deputy First Minister was right to put a general anti-avoidance rule at the heart of Revenue Scotland’s approach to its work from day 1, and I commend him for that decision. However, we could do other things, even with devolved powers, to show that we have a zero-tolerance approach. Does he agree that individuals or companies that engage in tax avoidance, for example through the use of tax havens, should be debarred from public appointments or from taxpayer-funded grant schemes such as regional selective assistance? Would that send the right signal that a zero-tolerance approach is being taken to tax avoidance in Scotland?
There is a commentary that generally says that the Scottish Government has taken a very strong approach—Patrick Harvie complimented me on it—in the earliest decisions that we have taken on tax collection, to make it absolutely clear that we will tackle tax avoidance wherever we can identify it. By setting the bar as high as we have set it with the general anti-avoidance rule, we aim to do that.
As I said in my opening answer, I am certainly prepared to consider other measures to ensure that we properly tackle tax avoidance. If Mr Harvie has particular suggestions to make, I will consider them, as I have made clear to Parliament on all occasions that I will consider suggestions.
Does the cabinet secretary agree with Dave Watson of Unison, who has suggested that the tax practices of potential contractors should be taken into account in Scottish Government procurement decisions?
As Mr Macdonald knows, the Government has to observe a wide variety of considerations in relation to procurement decisions, which are principally informed by the obligations of our participation in the European Union. However, as I have made clear, we can legislate to establish the highest degree of intolerance of tax avoidance. We have done that with the general anti-avoidance rule, and we will seek to apply that in whichever circumstances we can.
Malawi (Scottish Government Support)
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the work it is supporting in Malawi. (S4O-04055)
Since the signing of the co-operation agreement in 2005, the Scottish Government has provided more than £53 million to development work in Malawi. On 28 January, I announced £9.2 million of new funding for 20 development projects in Malawi.
The member will be aware from his recent visit that torrential rain has had a terrible impact through flooding in many parts of Malawi. The Scottish Government contributed £150,000 towards the initial relief effort, and we are considering what other contributions we can make. If the member keeps his eye open after First Minister’s question time, he will see that we have given funding to smaller Scottish non-governmental organisations for smaller grants. Some of those are in Malawi.
As the minister mentioned, I visited Malawi recently. At Matindi primary school, I was lucky enough to see a fantastic example of the work that Mary’s Meals does throughout the country. That project is supported by Holyrood secondary school, which is my old school, and Langside primary school, which is in my constituency. How is the Government ensuring that those links continue to flourish? Does he agree that those links, which primarily benefit the children of Malawi, are also of huge importance to pupils from Scotland who have the privilege to assist in those projects?
I agree with everything that the member has said.
Mary’s Meals has a collective, universal appeal across the chamber because of the simplicity of what it does and its great impact on the ground, and I am pleased that successive Scottish Governments, including our own have provided support to it.
I very much accept the member’s point that the development is two-way. We have to ensure that we teach our children about being a good global citizen and global citizenship, as the current curriculum does. We hope to do that through the funding that the Scottish Government has given to development education centres across Scotland.
That is important because we want Scotland to be known as a good global citizen. Although there will always be people who will comment negatively on giving overseas aid to the poorest, if we embed being a good global citizen in our children now, I hope that, when they have children and grandchildren and so on, the work will continue for future generations.
Will the minister give an update, please, on the success of the Malawi renewable energy acceleration programme, which is funded by the Scottish Government, and will he say whether it has met the aim of empowering the targeted communities?
Yes, I am delighted to do that. I will send the member the full brief on the outcomes and what people have managed to achieve.
The programme has been one of our most successful programmes in Malawi. I saw it myself when I went to the polytechnic in Blantyre. I saw the range of renewable solutions that are helping the poorest on the ground through our innovation in Scotland. There were excellent real-life stories. As a result of the Malawi renewable energy acceleration programme, for example, a woman in a town near Mulanje mountain became the first person in that town to give birth in a room with a light in it. That was in the 21st century, of course; I was there in 2014. That is the kind of thing that MREAP is doing. There are not just strategies, documents and funding programmes; lives are being changed on the ground.
On Jamie McGrigor’s wider question, I will send him the full details of how MREAP has successfully progressed.
Burntisland Fabrications (Jobs)
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Burntisland Fabrications Ltd regarding reports of potential job losses.
The Scottish Government is concerned to hear of potential redundancies at Burntisland Fabrications. I appreciate that this will be a difficult time for the company’s employees and their families.
Scottish Enterprise met the BiFab management on 13 February, and the proposed job losses were raised at that meeting. The local partnership action for continuing employment chair has also met the company and has provided information on the tailored support that can be made available to any employees who are facing redundancy.
Would the minister be happy to meet me and BiFab to support the company during this difficult time? As the minister recognises, the company is facing a number of redundancies and it is causing great concern for the current workforce. No one wants to see job losses and we must do all that we can to ensure that BiFab has the skills and capacity to deliver on new contracts. What action will the Government take to support BiFab in its efforts, particularly in securing some of the forthcoming Department of Energy and Climate Change contracts and in helping to grow the energy park?
First, Scottish Enterprise has invested £24 million in the energy park alongside Fife Council. Secondly, Adrian Gillespie met John Robertson at BiFab on 13 February. A number of positive actions that were discussed at that meeting will be taken forward. Thirdly, I am in virtually constant contact with companies that are involved in offshore wind and oil and gas sector markets that BiFab has already succeeded in winning business in, and I will continue that contact.
Fourthly, I have visited BiFab in Burntisland and in Arnish in the Western Isles, where Highlands and Islands Enterprise has also supported the company. Fifthly, we have put in place an apprenticeship scheme to ensure that any apprentice in the oil and gas sector who is made redundant is able to complete their job training. A financial incentive of £5,000 will encourage another employer to recruit the apprentice.
We are doing as much as we possibly can. We value the work that BiFab does. We will continue to work very closely with that company and its team to do everything possible so that it will continue to provide a successful business for Scotland.
Scottish Business Development Bank
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the establishment of a Scottish business development bank. (S4O-04057)
We aim to make an official announcement on the establishment of a Scottish business development bank later in the autumn. The aim of the business development bank is to help to address the needs of those 100,000 small and medium-sized enterprises in Scotland who employ staff and to grow the number of high-growth businesses that Scotland needs.
The bank was announced for the first time almost two years ago. Given that the Scottish Government said that it could start a new country within 18 months, can the cabinet secretary tell us how big the bank will be and when it will actually be open for business?
I would have thought that Mr Brown might have welcomed the progress that I have just described. He is always keen to hear about progress when I set it out to Parliament, and I have told him that we plan to make an official announcement in the autumn.
As Mr Brown well knows, there are challenging issues in relation to the interaction of a business development bank with public finances and the rules under which we have to operate within the precious United Kingdom. As a consequence of that, we have to tread with great care to make sure that we make decisions and take actions that are consistent with the accounting framework within which we have to operate.
I have been wrestling with those issues for some time, and I continue to do so. As soon as I have some answers, I will share them with Mr Brown. He will be one of the first to know.
PFI and PPP Costs (Edinburgh Western)
To ask the Scottish Government whether there is an up-to-date estimate of private finance initiative and public-private partnership costs in the Edinburgh Western parliamentary constituency. (S4O-04058)
Information on the cost of PFI and PPP projects is updated annually and made available through the Scottish Government website.
The Edinburgh schools PPP bundles 1 and 2 include provision for schools within the Edinburgh Western parliamentary constituency. The revenue cost of both bundles in 2014-15 is anticipated to be £39.2 million.
Does the Deputy First Minister agree with me that local authorities such as the City of Edinburgh Council would today have far more money to spend on local services if they were not saddled with billions of pounds of debt because of the failed PFI agenda of the previous Labour and Liberal Executive? Is it not about time that those parties owned up to their part in creating this mess?
As I shared with Parliament during the budget process, the total repayment on PFI contracts in 2014-15, for the whole of Scotland, is £952 million. It will breach the £1 billion level in 2017-18.
What I cannot understand is why my predecessors in office decided to saddle the country with PFI debts when they were leaving budgets unspent in the possession of Her Majesty’s Treasury at exactly the same time. When we came to office, £1.5 billion of expenditure was unspent by our predecessors. That demonstrates a lack of financial competence by our predecessors, and it shows their lack of interest in investing sustainably in the interests of our country.
Before we move to the next item of business, members will wish to join me in welcoming to the gallery Her Excellency Sylvie-Agnès Bermann, the ambassador of France to the United Kingdom. [Applause.]