Plenary, 26 Oct 2006

Meeting date: Thursday, October 26, 2006

Official Report 778KB pdf

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Question Time

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SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE

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General Questions

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Air Discount Scheme (Western Isles)

To ask the Scottish Executive how many eligible residents in the Western Isles have registered for the air discount scheme and how many have used the scheme since its introduction. (S2O-10877)

Since the introduction of the air discount scheme on 18 May 2006 and up to 30 September, 25,698 residents in the Western Isles—93 per cent of the eligible total—had registered for the scheme and 3,458 residents had used it.

I thank the minister for that encouraging update. I am sure that the minister will have seen and heard some of the more churlish remarks that the Scottish National Party has made about a scheme that it cannot bring itself to welcome or endorse. I ask the minister for an update on some of the understandable technical issues that were a feature of the scheme at the outset. Further, I ask the minister and the Executive to give serious consideration to a ferry discount scheme for which eligibility would be based on the residency criterion that has been used so successfully for the air discount scheme.

I am happy to address the specific points that Mr Morrison raises. I am aware that we have been able to sort out the operational issues with bookings for the Eastern Airways service to Aberdeen. I hope that that is of assistance to Alasdair Morrison's constituents. I am also happy to consider his point regarding the application of the residency rules to ferries. We are encouraged by the success of the air discount scheme, which appears to have been a successful mechanism in encouraging travel opportunities for local people, and we will reflect on Alasdair Morrison's comments. I share his concerns about SNP members who opposed the scheme and continue to send me letters saying that they are against it. I find that disappointing, given the scheme's success.

The good news is that we welcome the good sense of the people of the Western Isles in taking up the offer, but we regret the poor grace of the member and the minister on the issue. Will the Executive undertake a study to compare the net economic impact of the scheme with that of a public service obligation, which could benefit the residents to at least the same extent as the current scheme does and attract more investment, more visitors and more jobs to the Western Isles? If the Executive will not do that, can the minister tell us why?

If that was a U-turn, I guess that we must welcome it. The fact is that I have received letter after letter from Mr Mather and his colleagues saying that it would be better to have a public service obligation. That is the SNP's position. While we are helping people in the islands—the numbers illustrate that—the SNP has opposed the scheme time and time again. We reviewed the entire proposal and the different mechanisms that were available to us properly, and the Government came to a decision. The SNP should have the good grace to welcome it.

Does the minister agree that such initiatives should be given much wider publicity and should be extended to incoming flights, to encourage much-needed growth in tourism in such remote areas?

It is nice to see Dave Petrie with us today. We welcome him back to the chamber. I respect his remarks on the need to advertise constantly to ensure that people are aware of the benefits of the scheme and the ease with which they can use it. In response to his point about people who do not live in the islands and do not, therefore, qualify for the scheme under the residency rules that govern it, I say to him that we are operating the scheme in a similar way to many others that operate throughout Europe. Those are the rules under which we must construct and operate the scheme, and that is the current position.

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Property Factors (Regulation)

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to regulate property factors. (S2O-10870)

We are developing proposals for a national voluntary accreditation scheme for residential property managers. The aim will be to encourage owners of houses with common parts to appoint property managers by giving them confidence that scheme members will meet high standards.

Probably like many other members, I have received a significant number of complaints about the standard of service that my constituents receive from property managers. Will the minister meet me to discuss the matter further and to discuss the possibility of regulating property management factors? Will she also consider how best we might manage common areas that local residents have the responsibility of managing in the face of severe challenges?

I would be delighted to meet Paul Martin, given his expertise in rooting into what happens in local communities and formulating the policy challenges for the Executive. I am sure that what he has to say will be informative and will help us to shape policy on a matter that is important for local communities.

The accreditation scheme is voluntary on the advice of the housing improvement task force. We felt that people would be able to engage with it and that it would give them confidence.

The maintenance of open spaces is important. We have addressed the matter through the Title Conditions (Scotland) Act 2003 and the Tenements (Scotland) Act 2004, but Paul Martin may wish to note that we are currently consulting on draft Scottish planning policy 11 on sport, recreation and open space. In particular, we are considering how planning conditions can be attached to new developments to address the maintenance of open space. He might want to respond to that consultation by 3 November, but I am more than happy to meet him to discuss the issues further.

Is the minister aware of concerns, which are similar to Paul Martin's, about the management of common land in my constituency? I ask her to take those into consideration. Is she also aware of the concerns of residents and home owners in retirement complexes who, despite the passage of the Title Conditions (Scotland) Act 2003, are still having difficulty with the management of their properties?

I am aware of the issues that Kenneth Macintosh raises. I recognise that they are not specific to Paul Martin's constituency and that we have probably all experienced them in our communities. Some of them are to do with people not treating their responsibilities as obligations, which needs to be addressed at an earlier stage through planning consents.

There have been discussions with Hugh Henry, the Deputy Minister for Justice, on the points that Kenneth Macintosh makes on the Title Conditions (Scotland) Act 2003, but I am more than happy to pursue them further if we can help to resolve the concerns, particularly those of people in retirement complexes, who might find the additional stress of dealing with maintenance issues unacceptable.

Question 3 has been withdrawn.

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Air Route Development Fund

To ask the Scottish Executive whether environmental or economic considerations are given greater weight when making decisions on routes to support through the air route development fund. (S2O-10810)

All proposed route development fund air routes are appraised against a range of operational and economic benefit criteria. The environmental component of the appraisal of new services includes two indicators of environmental impact: aircraft noise and carbon dioxide emissions.

The minister's reply is somewhat at variance with the statement from the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport on Radio Scotland last night that, although the balance was delicate, the economic issues should be given priority. We now have a Government pledge to introduce a climate change bill, so if the Minister for Transport is committed to increasing aviation emissions through the route development fund, what sector does he propose should cut its carbon emissions so that the balance of emissions does not continue to rise?

As we have just debated, tackling carbon dioxide emissions requires a balance across the different transport sectors and across Government policy. I hope that Mr Ballance is familiar with the fact that, in considering the carbon dioxide emissions for air transport, we examine aircraft emissions and emissions from surface transport. Of course, he does not help his argument by opposing the Edinburgh airport rail link—as does the Scottish National Party—which would help considerably in that regard.

The line is wrong.

It is particularly disappointing that the Greens and SNP members, who are all screaming and shouting from a sedentary position, oppose the arrival of overseas visitors to Scotland—2.4 million in the past year, which is a 50 per cent increase since 2001 and the highest figure that has ever been recorded. The Executive welcomes that, but I see that the SNP and the Greens oppose it.

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Railway Improvements (Inverness to Aberdeen)

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has for improving the railway line between Inverness and Aberdeen. (S2O-10813)

Later this autumn, we will publish our rail policy document "Scotland's Railways" as part of the national transport strategy. It will examine a number of options for improving the route between Inverness and Aberdeen.

The minister might be aware that there were recently reports in the local press in the Inverness area that the much-needed expansion of the commuter train service between Elgin and Inverness has been put in doubt because the line does not have the capacity to carry any more trains because it is only a single-track line. Does he agree that a single-track railway between two of our major cities is not fit for purpose in the 21st century and that it should be at the top of his list for improvement? Whatever he announces later this autumn, will he undertake to put in place improvements to that route to get traffic off the A96 and on to the railway line, where it should be?

I assure Eleanor Scott that that is part of the "Scotland's Railways" approach to planning for the railway sector and network throughout Scotland. It is our intention to encourage and develop commuter lines to Inverness. There is strong pressure for that and there are strong arguments for it in relation to encouraging people to use public transport, as opposed to the car. The link that she mentions is important in that context.

The other day I noticed a comment in The Press and Journal that it is important to share in this context. It illustrates that

"the Highland capital is almost unrecognisable from a decade ago—during which time city status was achieved and new housing, offices and industrial units sprang up with alarming regularity … Its transport links are improving".

We are making some progress, as The Press and Journal recognises, and we will continue to do so.

Is the minister aware of the timetabling problems that passengers who are travelling north face with connections, such as one Glasgow train arriving in Aberdeen 60 seconds after the Inverness connection has left? Passengers who want to make that journey face a two-hour delay waiting for the next Inverness train. Does he also recognise that FirstScotrail blames the timetabling problems on the fact that the route between Aberdeen and Inverness is a single-track line and does he agree that that means that it should be a priority for upgrading?

That is a perfectly serious point and we will examine the issue. I meet FirstScotrail regularly to discuss those and other issues, as does Transport Scotland. I undertake to look into the matter, but I hope that Mr Lochhead supports the general theme of the Government's expenditure on railways, which involves tackling and providing for enhancements in the network. That can make a considerable difference in encouraging people to use public transport as opposed to the car.

Question 6 has been withdrawn.

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Schools (Funding)

To ask the Scottish Executive how the additional funding to improve school facilities will directly raise the standard of education delivered within our schools. (S2O-10872)

A wide range of factors bears on educational attainment, and improved school facilities help to create a learning and teaching environment in which young people get the best opportunities to realise their full potential.

Minister.

Thank you for the promotion, Presiding Officer.

Is the minister aware of the work of Thornliebank primary school's pupil council, members of which are visiting the Scottish Parliament today and, I hope, listening to the minister's response? They recently successfully lobbied my local authority, East Renfrewshire Council, for a multi-user games area to be built in the school playground. Does the minister agree that such sporting facilities not only encourage all our children to lead healthier and more active lives but will help to tackle the problem of rising obesity in Scotland and, I hope, help to produce the athletes of the future, perhaps in time for the Commonwealth games coming to Scotland?

I join Kenneth Macintosh in welcoming the children of Thornliebank primary school to the Parliament. He may be aware that, a few weeks ago, Peter Peacock, the Minister for Education and Young People, announced an additional £30 million for the schools fund for 2006-07—that is the capital grant—which increases the fund total to £131.35 million throughout the country, of which I think about £600,000 is available in East Renfrewshire. It has been suggested that the money could fund all sorts of capital projects, such as energy efficiency measures, canteens, enhanced sports facilities and playgrounds.

The Executive is very much aware of the importance of supporting all sorts of activities in schools, and the need for such investment is being taken forward. We are conscious of the bid to host the Commonwealth games and of the wider issues of obesity and exercise and diet in schools.

Is the minister aware that the number of pupils who are studying highers in the three sciences has fallen by 8,000 since 1997? Will he consider giving much more priority to investing in school science facilities to address the decline?

There has been quite a bit of investment in school science in the recent past, as well as the support that the Scottish Executive Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning Department has given to the science centres. As Lord James Douglas-Hamilton is aware, the matter has rightly been the subject of debate in the Parliament from time to time. The Scottish Executive is committed to supporting science as a major driver of Scotland's economy.

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Gender Proofing

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans there are to improve the gender proofing of policies across departmental portfolios. (S2O-10862)

The duty to promote equality of opportunity between women and men, as introduced by the Equality Act 2006, is expected to come into force in Scotland in April 2007.

As a public authority, the Executive, along with its agencies, is subject to that duty. Key parts of the new duty are ensuring that all new key policies and activities are assessed for their impact on gender equality and making arrangements to review key existing policies. We believe that effective equality impact assessment is key to equality mainstreaming and to the delivery of the gender duty and the other public sector equality duties. The Executive has been developing an equality impact assessment tool and guidance, which will be made available to all Executive officials to enable them to assess the impact of their policies across a number of equality strands, including gender.

I acknowledge the progress that is being made, even though the duty has not yet come in. Will the minister outline how departments are to be further encouraged to take a more uniform approach to equalities reporting, because at the moment different approaches are still being adopted?

It is key that we ensure that there is discussion throughout the Executive rather than just within departments. I know that members of the Equal Opportunities Committee will challenge the Minister for Communities, Malcolm Chisholm, when he discusses the budget with them in due course and talks about the practicalities of how that can be delivered.

Underlying our desire to get the budgets right is our desire to get the policy right. Today we mark the second anniversary of the establishment of the domestic abuse court and the assist service, which has liberated people to use their talents to support women who are dealing with domestic abuse through the justice system, so that they get justice and are not victimised further. We should recognise the need to put in place the budgets to match our policy commitment. We will talk about assessment tools and all the rest of it and will ensure that Executive officials talk to each other, but our commitment and energy to deliver equality for women will drive the budget—it will not be the other way round.

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Neighbourhood Wardens

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to increase the number of neighbourhood wardens in light of their performance in tackling antisocial behaviour in our communities. (S2O-10865)

Community wardens play a key role in our strategy to tackle antisocial behaviour. They help to make our communities safer by providing a visible presence in our communities, reassuring residents and working with the police and other agencies to take back our streets from the minority of people who engage in antisocial behaviour. Funding from the Executive has allowed every council in Scotland to operate a warden scheme and there are now well over 550 wardens patrolling our streets. As with all policy areas across the Executive, decisions on future funding to tackle antisocial behaviour, including provision for community wardens, must await the outcome of the spending review.

I am sure that the minister will agree that although we all accept that wardens are not a replacement for police officers, their visible presence on the streets can make a significant contribution to crime prevention. The award to a group of wardens from Renfrewshire at last night's standing up to antisocial behaviour awards ceremony is testament to the good work that they can do in tackling crime proactively.

Will the minister assure me that she will do everything that she can to ensure that when the spending review has been completed, funding for a significant number of community wardens in our communities will continue, because that will help to make our streets safer?

I am glad that Janis Hughes mentioned the standing up to antisocial behaviour awards that took place last night and the success of the Renfrewshire Council wardens in achieving one of the awards in the above and beyond category. The awards recognised the extraordinary efforts of ordinary citizens, both young and old, in communities throughout Scotland to reclaim our streets from the minority of people who cause problems.

Whenever I go to places where wardens are in operation, people want their presence to continue. That, together with the fact that areas that do not have wardens would like their provision to be extended, means that the Executive was right to introduce them, despite the opposition that came from certain quarters. I will do everything in my power to ensure that we reap the benefits from those schemes.

Does the minister agree that junior warden schemes such as the one in Abbeyview, which also received recognition at last night's awards, have a key role to play in our communities and should be encouraged throughout Scotland?

I certainly agree with Scott Barrie. I have visited the area that the Abbeyview junior wardens serve and had the opportunity to meet them again last night. The scheme is highly successful, particularly as it allows young people to focus on issues such as citizenship and how they can contribute to their communities. That is vital in getting across the message that our children and young people are almost inevitably the victims of antisocial behaviour.