SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE
General Questions
Jobcentre Vacancies
To ask the Scottish Government what assistance it is providing to people looking for employment in Scotland in light of recent figures showing that an average of 10 people apply for each jobcentre vacancy. (S3O-6434)
Although employment policy is a reserved matter, the Scottish Government is doing everything in its power to help people to look for employment in Scotland. Since January, we have invested considerable effort in strengthening our national redundancy service: partnership action for continuing employment, or PACE. For example, Skills Development Scotland dedicated 80 staff to work with Jobcentre Plus staff, some of whom will be on site in jobcentres. That is unique in the United Kingdom and represents a step towards the wider integration of employment and skills services, so that people get the most effective help to get back into work.
The community of Inverclyde, where I live, has suffered vast job losses in the shipbuilding and heavy engineering sectors and, more recently, in the electronics sector. Now that the UK economy is in recession, Inverclyde and every other part of Scotland face even more job losses as a result of the UK Government's shambolic handling of the economy.
I very much appreciate the situation in Inverclyde. I have experience of the area and I have visited Port Glasgow jobcentre, where one of the integrated employment and skills pilots is taking place. It is essential that we all pull together to seek resolution.
The Scottish Government is not doing everything in its power to support employment in Scotland. Thousands of construction workers are sitting at home because of the Government's failure to plan and deliver capital projects, such as new schools and houses. Will the Government move to deliver on a capital works programme and at least get us back to where we were in 2007, when investment of £1.3 billion was in the pipeline—as opposed to investment of only £300 million now?
I hate to contradict Cathie Craigie, but she should have listened to Tony McNulty, the Minister for Employment, Welfare Reform and London at Westminster, when he agreed that the Scottish Government is doing everything in its power to support employment.
Where is it? Where are the schools?
Order.
Some 250 schools are currently under construction.
National Testing (Primary Schools)
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will instigate national testing in reading, writing and maths for 10-year-olds, to ensure that underachieving pupils have the opportunity to catch up before starting secondary school. (S3O-6367)
No. Good literacy and numeracy skills need to be developed from the early years. Curriculum for excellence is our means of ensuring that there is rigorous, on-going assessment of literacy and numeracy skills in primary and early secondary stages, based on clear, nationally agreed benchmarks.
I thank the new minister and I welcome him to his post. He will be hearing more from me if I get more answers like that.
That is exactly the approach that we are taking, but it will be done through assessment and not through testing, which is not supported by anybody in the teaching profession that I have been able to find. In fact, Greg Dempster, the general secretary of the Association of Headteachers and Deputes in Scotland said that
In light of that answer, will the new framework for assessment include a specific recommendation on the type of literacy and numeracy testing that will be introduced in Scottish primary schools by the end of primary 7?
Yes, it will include that. The member will understand that the exact process of assessment is being discussed. However, it is also true that the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning will announce next week the outcomes and experiences under the curriculum for excellence. That is the next milestone in the process towards achieving an agreed assessment process. For the reasons that I have outlined, we are very much against the idea of testing P7 pupils. There is no support among teacher trade unions or teachers more generally for the testing of children of that age. There will be assessment, but only on the basis that teachers agree to it.
On the question of basic skills and literacy, the minister will be aware that, in its inquiry on pathways into sport, the Health and Sport Committee has uncovered a lack of reporting on physical literacy and physical skills in school reports by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education and, indeed, a similar lack of reporting by schools in pupil report cards. Does the minister share the committee's concerns about that?
Having spent, along with Shona Robison, an hour and a half answering questions from the committee on that and related subjects, I am well aware of the committee's concerns. I am well aware, too, of the committee's interest in ensuring that physical literacy is developed in schools. As I have said previously, it will be for schools to assess an individual pupil's progress in ways and at times that are appropriate for the young person's needs. Through the health and wellbeing strand of the curriculum for excellence, assessment must take account of the breadth and purpose of the wide range of learning that children and young people experience in that curriculum area. I am confident that, through curriculum for excellence, we will address some of the concerns that the committee raised.
Does the minister recognise that there is some concern that the strategy on primary school class sizes may be at the expense of specialised learning support, which is particularly important for youngsters who underachieve at that stage? Can he reassure me that, no matter what happens on class sizes, he will sustain the level of specialist learning support in our primary schools to ensure that children's support needs are picked up quickly and that individualised support can be given to them?
I can only say that there are no plans in the class size strategy to reduce the current provision for specialist learning. It is our view that, through curriculum for excellence, we will improve the ability to deliver those services to pupils who are in need of them. I do not therefore think that the member's concerns are well founded. I am certainly happy to discuss the matter further with her, if she has a concern.
Green Jobs Strategy
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will announce a strategy on creating green jobs. (S3O-6414)
In February, we announced 10 pledges that form the basis of our approach to ensuring that Scotland's energy sector is an aid to economic recovery and creates new jobs. We estimate that at least 16,000 new jobs could be created in the renewable energy sector by 2020. Our renewables action plan, which is to be published this summer, will map out the contribution of each renewables sub-sector towards meeting our 2020 energy targets and delivering economic benefit.
As the cabinet secretary has said, the Government has set a target of 50 per cent of electricity to be generated by renewables by 2020. He mentioned 16,000 jobs, but is that the only estimate that he has of jobs to be created? I would have thought that he could have been a bit more ambitious, given the target that he has set. What steps is he taking to encourage modern apprenticeships, for example, in areas that will provide the jobs for the future?
First, the 16,000 jobs figure is an estimate, not a target. The Government produced that estimate on the basis of looking at the position within the wider estimates of United Kingdom employment and consider it to be reasonable. I can assure Mr Whitton that it is by no means the sum of our ambitions. We are seeing a range of different developments and the approval of different consents for new renewable energy schemes. The Government is very confident that new employment will be created in the renewable energy sector. I am sure that we will hear more about that in due course.
On Tuesday, the Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee visited Caithness to study the potential of tidal energy in the Pentland Firth. Constructing subsea turbines would offer a large number of high-quality green jobs. Making that happen is crucial as Dounreay decommissions and skills become available. Will the cabinet secretary look closely at how we can make that development happen? Turbine fabrication could take place onshore in Caithness and in the Nigg yard. Will the cabinet secretary look at both areas with a view to establishing what financial resources are necessary and what impediments must be overcome, such as the unfortunate stalemate at Nigg?
The Government will do everything that it can to try to bring the relevant parties together to ensure that the enormous prospects for wave and tidal energy in the Pentland Firth can be realised. We are greatly encouraged by the opportunities that now exist as a consequence of the decisions announced by the Crown Estate. We have made it clear that we are determined to create a strong renewable energy industry. We look forward to further announcements on that in due course. Certainly, if particular obstacles stand in the way of onshore developments to support offshore activity in the Pentland Firth, the Government will be happy to do all that it can to resolve such issues. Jamie Stone knows that I will respond promptly to any requests for assistance in that respect.
Child Protection
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to protect children who live with a parent with a drug addiction. (S3O-6402)
The needs of children who are affected by parental substance misuse is a key priority for the Government. Within a year of coming into office we issued "The Road to Recovery: A New Approach to Tackling Scotland's Drug Problem", which sets out the Government's national drugs strategy and includes a chapter specifically on protecting children. It has been followed up by a project board on children affected by parental substance misuse, which involves the Scottish Government, local authorities and the voluntary sector, that meets on a six-week cycle. Among a range of actions, we have increased funding to health boards for drug treatment by 13.5 per cent for 2009-10 and established a learning partnership under the getting it right for every child programme with Angus Council and partner agencies to explore further ways to identify, protect and support better children whose parents misuse drugs or alcohol and ensure that adult services working with such parents make their children's interests a priority.
I am more interested in action than in publications and meetings. In a written question in 2007, I asked the minister how many children were living with a parent with a drug addiction. He estimated the number to be between 10,000 and 20,000. When asked the same question two weeks ago by my colleague Karen Whitefield, he gave the same unsatisfactory answer. What has he been doing over the past two years to identify and meet the needs of those children? On a day when Audit Scotland confirms that billions are being spent on adults with an addiction, is it not time that he got a share of that budget to tackle the real issues for the real victims of abuse?
What children need from us are services that meet their individual needs and risks, not number crunching. The statistics are a means to an end. Duncan McNeil's views on this issue are well known and he is welcome to them. While we share his concerns for children who are affected by parental substance misuse, we do not agree with his prescription for action.
School Building Project (Aberdeen)
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on refinancing the Aberdeen 3Rs school project to allow building work on the affected schools to restart. (S3O-6454)
Landsbanki hf has commenced a refinancing of the project on behalf of the NYOP Education (Aberdeen) Ltd consortium. It would be inappropriate for the Scottish Government to comment on matters that are the subject of commercial negotiations.
If the current situation is what the minister calls accelerating major capital projects, his foot might be on the pedal but his tank is full of empty rhetoric. The First Minister likes to take credit for new schools that are built by local councils. Will the Government now take some responsibility when projects stall? This is a crucial time for that major project in Aberdeen. We were promised that building would be under way again by the end of March but, so far, as the minister explained, the project has not even been refinanced. The Treasury has announced a scheme in England and Wales to support private finance initiative and public-private partnership projects when finance is no longer available from the private sector. Will the minister confirm that similar support will be provided in Scotland and will be available to underwrite the restart of building new schools in Aberdeen where there are currently empty building sites?
The Treasury scheme to which the member refers has not yet been implemented fully, but we are considering its implications and the benefits that it might have for Scotland. On the member's point about delays to projects, everyone is well aware that the project in Aberdeen is delayed because of the collapse of the Icelandic banking system. I point out to the member that schools that he approved in my area in 2002 are still not finished or opened, seven years on, and are massively over budget, so perhaps he should look to himself when he asks such questions.
Town Centre Regeneration Fund
To ask the Scottish Government, in developing the details of the town centre regeneration fund, whether it will include plans to inform local communities about how they can apply for funding. (S3O-6423)
The full details of the town centre regeneration fund will be announced shortly. Every effort will be made to ensure that the information is widely disseminated.
The minister will be aware that, from Whiting Bay to Wigtown and from Largs to Lerwick, the Tories have been encouraging people in every community in Scotland, big or small, to nominate their community for an award from the fund via a Tory party website. Does he agree that that is irresponsibly raising false expectations of what the scheme can deliver and that it will have no bearing on how funds can be distributed?
The decision-making process on awards under the town centre regeneration fund will be made by ministers in consultation with other stakeholders, which does not include the Conservative party.
Local Authority Leaders (Meetings)
To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings are planned between ministers and leaders of local authorities to discuss education. (S3O-6379)
The Minister for Children and Early Years will visit Tarbolton primary school nursery in South Ayrshire on 31 March, during which the leader of South Ayrshire Council will be present. I plan to meet Councillor Steven Purcell from Glasgow City Council soon to discuss education matters. In addition, plans are being developed for the Minister for Schools and Skills to visit a number of local authorities. Those are examples of our frequent meetings with leaders of councils, other councillors, senior officials from local authorities, representatives of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and many others to drive forward our shared commitment to improve educational outcomes for all children and young people.
On 12 March, the cabinet secretary told Parliament that it is up to Glasgow City Council whether it spends its £196 million of capital funding on school buildings. In fact, £115 million of that funding is ring fenced for projects including the M74 extension and the White Cart Water flood prevention scheme. Will the cabinet secretary apologise to Glasgow City Council and the Parliament for her misleading remarks? Will she tell us when the Scottish Government plans to stop hiding behind spin and bluster and put in place adequate funding for school building, so that pupils and teachers in Glasgow and elsewhere can benefit from fit-for-purpose learning and teaching environments?
The Government is investing £2 billion in schools, and 250 schools are under construction. I would be delighted to meet Steven Purcell to discuss some of the concerns that many parents have about schooling in Glasgow. Glasgow City Council is undergoing a process of school closures, but that is a matter for the council, and it would be inappropriate for me, as minister, to comment on that publicly at this moment.
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