SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE
General Questions
I repeat last week's message from the Presiding Officers: in order to get more members involved in question time sessions, brevity is the watchword.
ScotRail Services (Stranraer)
I will try to comply, Presiding Officer. [Laughter.]
Transport Scotland is part of the Scottish Government and meets regularly with Network Rail and ScotRail in the normal course of business to discuss a range of matters, including development of rail services.
I am relieved to hear that. The minister will be aware that rail fares to Stranraer are disproportionately more expensive than fares to other stations on the line closer to Glasgow. A 60 per cent increase in mileage compared with the Girvan journey costs more than 100 per cent more in rail fares. Does the minister agree that that very much discourages rail passenger traffic to Stranraer? Will he undertake to raise those issues with Transport Scotland and ScotRail the next time he meets them?
It is the case, of course, that there are different rail fares and different rates per track kilometre across Scotland. Some of the differences are sufficiently large to merit further investigation. Some 58,000 people travel to Stranraer each year, particularly to connect with ferry services. The service is therefore an integral part of our overall transport infrastructure. I will certainly pursue that with the rail company and Transport Scotland.
Planning (Economic Growth)
To ask the Scottish Government what measures it has taken to enhance economic growth through planning procedures. (S3O-8607)
The economic recovery plan update that was published last month set out the steps that we are taking to ensure that the planning system continues to contribute to increasing sustainable economic growth. We continue to work with planning authorities, agencies, the development industry and others to ensure that commitments made to support planning reform are delivered.
I am aware that the average time that is taken to deal with planning applications has been significantly reduced. What further measures can the cabinet secretary take to reduce that even more?
The Government shares a clear recognition with our partners in local authorities and the agencies that act on the Government's behalf of the importance of considering planning issues in a timeous fashion. I was very pleased to report that we are now at a position where 80 per cent of written planning appeals submitted to Scottish ministers have been dealt with within 12 weeks. That compares with 27 per cent in 2008-09 and 6 per cent in 2007-08. We are therefore able to see clear improvements in the timetable for considering such matters.
Chartered Institute of Environmental Health
In relation to this question, I point members to my entry in the register of members' interests.
While it is an operational decision for the council of the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health to establish an administrative region in Scotland, the Scottish Government continues to work closely on a number of key issues with the Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland as an acknowledged representative body for environmental health in Scotland.
The minister will no doubt be interested to learn that the Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland's annual general meeting last week produced near-unanimous support for a resolution expressing disappointment and concern that the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, which covers England, Wales and Northern Ireland, has decided to set up an administrative region in Scotland. Does she agree with REHIS that the CEIH has engaged in an unnecessary and provocative act in formally establishing itself in Scotland? Does she agree that the motivation for such a move has little to do with member support but is instead a clear attempt by the CEIH to usurp REHIS, which is the Scottish body for environmental health?
As I said, the matter is an operational decision for the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health. It would not be appropriate for me to speculate on the motivation for opening such a branch in Scotland. As I said, the Scottish Government works closely with the Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland as the acknowledged representative body for environmental health in Scotland on the delivery of important environmental health policies and parliamentary consultations. I do not expect that position to change.
Question 4 is from Cathy Peattie, who appears not to be in the chamber. Members will be aware of my disapproval of that, not least because Dr Ian McKee has an extremely good supplementary question, which I am now unable to get him to ask.
Public Transport (Forth Estuary)
To ask the Scottish Executive what work has been carried out by Transport Scotland on its public transport strategy in and around the Forth. (S3O-8647)
The strategic transport projects review recommendations that were announced on 10 December 2008 included a number of interventions relating to public transport enhancements in and around the Forth. Since then, the Scottish Government has engaged with interested stakeholders on the development of a public transport strategy to consider opportunities for taking forward those interventions in support of the Forth replacement crossing.
The minister stated in his letter to me dated 24 September that
Intervention 8 in the STPR refers to park-and-choose facilities at Halbeath and at Pitreavie near Rosyth. I recently met Councillor Russell Imrie and colleagues from the south east of Scotland transport partnership to discuss a wide range of issues relating to public transport interventions around the Forth replacement crossing. We will continue to work with SEStran and others to ensure that such interventions complement the Forth replacement crossing project, the bill for which was recently published.
Bus Services
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to maintain and improve bus services in the light of recent decisions by bus companies to withdraw commercial services from many communities. (S3O-8605)
The Scottish Government is committed to promoting the use of bus services in Scotland. We are taking forward a number of initiatives with local government partners and bus operators to maintain and improve bus services.
I am grateful to the minister for the Government's commitment to bus services in Scotland. Is he aware that a recent package of bus service cuts by a major commercial bus operator in the Strathclyde Partnership for Transport area resulted in the need for a subsidy to maintain minimum socially necessary services that was equivalent to 6 per cent of SPT's annual subsidy budget? What steps will the Scottish Government take to ensure that bus services are maintained? Specifically, what assistance can the minister give to Strathclyde Partnership for Transport?
Despite the £500 million cut in the funding available to Scotland—which, as the cabinet secretary said in his statement this morning, would have meant a £170 million cut for local authorities—funding for local authorities will rise by 2.9 per cent compared with last year. It is of course for local authorities to determine how they spend their money, but in the light of that significant increase and the higher proportion of the Scottish Government's overall budget that is now available to them, I hope that local authorities will take the appropriate action.
Is the minister aware that some bus operators are cutting services in the Borders and Penicuik because of loss of revenue due to the Edinburgh tram works? Does he share my concern that Borders buses are excluded from Edinburgh bus station on the same basis, with the result that passengers and drivers are literally left out in the cold at Waterloo Place, where they lack security and facilities? Does he agree that that should not continue?
I was not aware until now that such bus services are excluded from Edinburgh bus station. I plan to meet the leader of the City of Edinburgh Council in the very near future to discuss a range of issues of mutual interest. I will also seek to raise that issue at that time.
In view of the apparent inability of commercial operators to provide stable bus networks in my constituency—and, given Ms Grahame's question, in regions throughout Scotland—will the Scottish Government consider granting powers to public transport authorities to resume directly operated bus services?
An interesting power that has not yet been exercised—which Glasgow City Council is pursuing—is statutory bus partnerships. In support of that, we have recently published guidance and advice that will be helpful to authorities that wish to take that route, which is available. The appointment of a senior bus development officer is already making a difference to the capability to support bus services across Scotland. I think that, in the first instance, those two ways forward are likely to deliver early and most useful successes.
Direct Payments (City of Edinburgh Council)
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it agrees with the City of Edinburgh Council's proposal to cut its direct payments rate to a single level per client group irrespective of individual need. (S3O-8577)
The Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 requires local authorities to ensure that the direct payment is sufficient to enable the recipient to secure support of an appropriate standard. It is for councils to ensure that a person's needs are being met. A direct payment rate should be sufficient to purchase a service of an equivalent standard to a council-provided service. In line with our guidance, it is for local authorities to determine the direct payment rate. That ensures that local authorities can take into account local conditions and workforce considerations.
Is the minister aware that, under the Scottish National Party and Liberal Democrat-controlled council in Edinburgh, at least 440 people have chosen to apply for direct payments to buy care of their own choice rather than to accept the new care that is being forced on them by the council? Those are some of the most vulnerable people in our community, including people with learning difficulties and physical and mental health problems. Is she aware that, although local authorities have had to recognise that adults have a right to choose their care home placement, that does not apply to care in the community? Surely the minister must accept that she must intervene to ensure that services in our capital city are provided properly, paid for properly and properly protected.
The City of Edinburgh Council's performance to date has been very positive. Currently, its number of direct payment recipients is above average and its spend is more than in any other part of Scotland. Its average value of packages is also among the highest. As I said, the City of Edinburgh Council will discuss the matter next week, but the council has decided in the meantime to carry on processing direct payments. I hope that, when the rates of payment are discussed next week, a resolution can be found that ensures that individuals can choose to access the appropriate support that they require.
Public Transport (Scottish Borders)
To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to support public transport in the Scottish Borders. (S3O-8555)
The Scottish Government encourages all local authorities to promote public transport. Scottish Government funding for bus services across Scotland is considerable. This year, that included more than £63 million for bus service operators grant and £182 million for concessionary travel. We are also providing record levels of funding to local authorities. The latest figures show that councils spent some £51 million supporting local bus services in 2007-08. That substantial outlay is intended to help the industry to drive down fare costs and to deliver other benefits.
As we have already heard, in my constituency in the Scottish Borders dozens of local bus routes will be lost to remote and rural communities unless financial support continues to be provided to the bus companies concerned. Although the minister says that considerable funding is available, the council has made it clear that it does not receive sufficient funding from the Scottish Government to help support the services in question. Does the minister acknowledge the importance of those routes? What support, in addition to that which he has already outlined, will he provide to Scottish Borders Council?
The Scottish Borders Council, like councils across Scotland, has seen an above-inflation increase in funding; across Scotland, the average increase is 2.9 per cent. We are providing the funds for councils to support bus services across Scotland. It is their responsibility to do so, and they are best placed to understand local needs and to provide a local response.
Given that we are talking about a Borders community, there is a clear comparison between the fragile nature of the sustainability of the services in rural parts of the Scottish Borders and the situation immediately south of the border in England. Can the minister confirm that the pence-per-mile support that the Scottish Government provides for such services is identical to the level of support that is received by local authorities immediately south of the border?
The key fact that I draw the member's attention to is that, per capita, the average support that is given to bus services in Scotland is substantially higher than the average support that is given to bus services in England. I think that we give terrific support to Scottish bus services.
Broadband-enabling Technology
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the trial of broadband-enabling technology will be expanded across Scotland. (S3O-8564)
The Scottish Government is not aware of any plans by BT to expand its trial of broadband-enabling technology to other parts of Scotland. [Interruption.]
Can we have a bit less chatter in the chamber, please?
The minister may recall that I wrote to him recently on behalf of a constituent who lives some 3 miles from St Andrews, who could not obtain quality broadband-enabling technology. Is it not a ridiculous state of affairs that despite living in such close proximity to a centre of technological excellence such as the University of St Andrews, subscribers can obtain neither quality broadband nor even an indication about when it might become available?
I understand the member's point, but I think that things are moving in a positive direction. Broadband-enabling technology will provide broadband services up to 12km from the exchange. The trials in Scotland in Dingwall and Inverness have been sufficiently successful for BT to push ahead with the technology in eight other locations across the UK. I am confident that such provision, which is entirely BT led, will go on to deliver the goods for Ted Brocklebank and his constituents.
Influenza A(H1N1) (Children)
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will now vaccinate all children against the influenza A(H1N1) virus as a priority. (S3O-8566)
I announced on 19 November that the vaccination programme would be extended to offer vaccination to all children between the ages of six months and five years. The discussions that will take place over the coming weeks about future phases of the vaccination programme will take into account the latest scientific advice, epidemiology, evidence and modelling predictions about the development of the pandemic.
I very much welcome the announcement that vaccinations will now be available to children between the ages of six months and five years. I would be grateful if the cabinet secretary could indicate when that programme will start and if she would explain why the vaccine will not be made available to siblings in the family.
As I said last week, the next phase of the vaccination programme will start during December, once general practitioners have offered vaccination to those in the priority groups.
Are there any differences between the vaccination programme in Scotland and that in England?
No.
Thank you.
We have finished slightly early, so I will take the opportunity to say that I understand that Cathy Peattie is ill. I am truly sorry to hear that, but it should not be beyond the wit of business managers to inform the Presiding Officer's office when such a situation occurs so that I do not give undue reprimands in the chamber.