SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE
Sex Offenders
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to review the current duties of local authorities in relation to rehousing convicted paedophiles and other sex offenders, especially in small rural communities. (S1O-1556)
I will be absolutely delighted to answer that question, as soon as I get my bearings.
I thank the minister for his answer, which he just managed to get in. Will he confirm that he has received representations both from my colleague David Mundell and from the convener of Dumfries and Galloway Council, which I fully support, about the severe problems that are being experienced at present in that region with regard to rehousing of former paedophiles? Will he agree to meet Dumfries and Galloway Council and the other agencies involved to discuss the problem, as they have requested as a matter of considerable urgency?
I repeat what I just said: we think that appropriate measures are already in place to address the concerns that have been raised by the elected members. I should be delighted to discuss the situation with members from the area. If the local authority wishes to make a submission to my office, I will be happy to deal with it. However, essentially this is a matter of local concern, to be addressed locally within the framework that the ministerial team has outlined so far.
I hear what the minister is saying, but does he accept that when an individual gains a profile in a rural community, it is not possible to deal with them under existing arrangements? Does he also accept that the Scottish Executive both has a duty and should want to assist the local authority in dealing with that issue?
I reiterate that I should be happy to meet David Mundell and other MSPs from the area to discuss the matter. At the moment papers are being produced for discussion across ministerial areas that will address many of the concerns that have been raised.
Scottish Council for Research in Education
To ask the Scottish Executive why it has withdrawn funding from the Scottish Council for Research in Education. (S1O-1562)
The Scottish Executive has not withdrawn funding from the Scottish Council for Research in Education. For a number of years, the council has been funded on the basis of an annual service level agreement to provide the Executive with a range of research-related services. A costed list of services was tabled by the council on 6 April, and officials are now drafting an offer of contract to ensure continuity of services in 2000-01.
Can the minister give an assurance that the SCRE or some other body will continue to provide the Executive with the services that the SCRE currently provides, as a national clearing house for research, interpreting foreign research in a Scottish context, advising ministers on research priorities and disseminating research results to teachers?
What we require of research in education is diversity, quality and a certain degree of independence. A body that was consistently funded by us, and on which we would have board members, would not fulfil all those conditions. Research is changing rapidly in the educational community, especially now that colleges, with their ethos and background in research, are part of the university system. I look forward to continuing good relationships with all the bodies that are involved in research.
Student Finance
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to amend the Education Authority Bursaries (Scotland) Regulations 1995 to allow local authorities the discretion to make awards to students living outwith their boundaries. (S1O-1549)
There are no plans to make such a change. If Kenneth Macintosh has information about particular problems, the Scottish Executive will be prepared to consider the situation further.
Is the minister aware of the difficulties that are caused by the insistence of the law on residency within a local authority? In my area in East Renfrewshire, I know of one young man who has been at the same school for four years, and who would like to stay on for fifth and sixth year, but who, because of family circumstances, needs to earn some money. He would normally qualify for a bursary, which would encourage him to continue with his education, but because his family now lives just outside the East Renfrewshire area, the local authority does not have the discretion to award him that bursary. Does the minister agree that that is not an especially good example of joined-up government, and that we should keep that area of the law under review?
I was unaware of that problem until today. The Executive is anxious to encourage young people—especially those from deprived families—to stay on at school for a sixth year. The education maintenance allowance trial in Ayrshire is about trying to achieve that. If there are problems with the operation of the regulations, the Executive will wish to take action on that. If Kenneth Macintosh gives me the details, I will investigate further and write to him in due course.
Housing
To ask the Scottish Executive whether its housing policy will preserve the right to rent with equal importance as the right to buy. (S1O-1559)
Our top priority is attracting new investment into rented homes. That is why our new housing partnership programme is expected to leverage over £2,000 million into homes for rent. We will also continue to recognise aspirations to home ownership.
Is the minister aware that, in part of my constituency, in the old Kincardine and Deeside District Council area, the council housing stock has, since 1980, been reduced from 4,450 houses to just 2,900, and that there is a real fear that the proposals, as they stand, to extend further the right to buy might seriously reduce the availability of affordable rented housing in rural areas? Does the minister accept that maintaining affordable rented housing is vital to support rural communities, especially if we want to encourage young people to stay in the areas in which they were brought up?
It is precisely because we share some of those concerns that I can confirm that Aberdeenshire Council has been awarded money under the new housing partnership programme that will deliver 184 homes for rent at low cost, and that Scottish Homes will approve a further 200 homes for rent in the next year, making a total of 384 homes for rent. That vastly exceeds the 120 additional sales—associated with the extension of the right to buy—that are estimated for the whole of Scotland.
Shipbuilding
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress there has been on talks to secure the roll-on-roll-off ferry contract and the type 45 destroyer contract for the BAe Systems yards at Govan and Scotstoun. (S1O-1565)
The awarding of those contracts is a reserved matter. We understand that on current plans the Ministry of Defence intends to place contracts for the ro-ro service and for first of class of the type 45 destroyer later this year. The Scottish Executive has ensured that the United Kingdom Government is fully aware of the importance of those contracts to BAe Systems shipyards on the Clyde.
I thank the minister—but he has not said where the contracts are going. Will he let me know the extent of military use to which the ro-ro ferries would be put? What would the percentage be? We need the truth, and not more damaging leaks, which deliberately play down military use and aid competitors with the Clyde yards. I trust that the minister agrees that the Parliament must prevent the Clyde from being sold out, and must protect thousands of Scottish jobs. Will he support an investigation by the Scottish Parliament into the secretive procurement methods of the Ministry of Defence in London and its outrageous and arrogant disregard for Scottish jobs?
The military aspect is a reserved matter.
As a matter of courtesy to Dorothy-Grace Elder, she asked me what progress was being made, not where the contracts had been laid.
I thank the minister for his words of support. He will be aware, however, of speculation that Govan might build only one of the roll-on-roll-off ferries required by the MOD. Is he aware that that would not in itself be enough to keep the yard open for the two years until it is due to start work, with Scotstoun, on the type 45 prototype? Is he further aware that what Govan needs to fill that gap is work equivalent to 28,000 tonnes of steel—that is equivalent to four roll-on-roll-off ferries? Does he agree that that calls for the entire contract to go to the Sealion consortium? Will he confirm that is what he will press the UK Government to deliver and that anything less would be a betrayal of the work force at Govan?
It is a pity that such questions are laced with words such as betrayal. Is it not true that everyone in this chamber, no matter their political party or whether they are part of the Executive, wants to see success? I say to Nicola Sturgeon that there has been much speculation—it is time for us to stop speculating and to continue, with the Scotland Office, the hard work. We met the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and the Secretary of State for Defence. Everything conceivable has been done.
Genetically Modified Organisms
I declare an interest as a River Tweed commissioner.
I am not a River Tweed commissioner.
I thank the minister for his reassuring reply. He will know of concerns that escaped farmed salmon can dilute the gene pool of salmon and sea trout in our rivers. Will he bear that in mind if there are any applications to farm GM salmon in Scottish waters?
Yes. Wild salmon fisheries are important to the Scottish rural economy. It would be fair to assume that the either deliberate or accidental introduction of very large alien fish into rivers such as the Tweed could threaten wild fish stocks. I am certain that the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment would take account of that consideration in determining such an application. The Scottish Executive would certainly take account of such considerations.
Does the minister agree that if the issue arises, it should be brought to the Parliament before any decision is made?
Any decision will be made under the regulatory framework that has been established by the United Kingdom and the European Union. The final authority, as far as Scotland is concerned, will be the Scottish Executive, which is answerable to this Parliament and rightly so.
I thank the minister for his reassuring answers. I am not one of those commissioners either. In a constituency such as mine, the rod and line industry is jittery. Will the minister convey his reassurances, via suitable channels, to that industry?
I acknowledge the importance of angling interests to the Scottish rural economy in constituencies such as Jamie Stone's.
Roads (A75)
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the planned improvements to the A75 and the time scale for their implementation as outlined in the A75 route action plan are sufficient to prevent any further losses of ferry traffic from the Loch Ryan corridor to other routes such as Holyhead. (S1O-1584)
The transfer of traffic between routes from Eire and Northern Ireland will be influenced by a number of commercial factors beyond improvements to the A75.
I think that we are all aware of that, but what would the minister say to the Labour leader of the Dumfries and Galloway Council coalition, who said that he was disappointed at the time scale, and the number and scale of the proposed improvements? What would she say to the route director of Stena Line, who said that the proposed changes would have minimal impact?
I would say to both of them that we have invested heavily in that route over the past few years. A number of major improvements have been carried out; the Glen was the most recent one.
The A75 is an important route for the economies of not only Dumfries and Galloway, but Northern Ireland and northern England. What plans does the minister have to discuss the upgrade requirements with the local council, elected representatives from Northern Ireland and the UK Government?
The main priority that I have established is working with Dumfries and Galloway Council to ensure that it knows what is happening with the route action plan. When I recently published the route action plan, I ensured that the council and local members who expressed an interest received a copy, so that they could see what progress had been made and where we intended to take the plan further.
Private Sector Housing
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to increase expenditure on private sector housing in Scotland. (S1O-1591)
Responsibility for expenditure on private sector housing lies principally with the owners. The Executive will continue to support investment in private sector housing consistent with our broader housing policy objectives.
I thank the minister for his answer. Does he agree that the cut in home improvement grants in Scotland from £101.256 million to £38.483 million over the past four years—a cut of more than 62 per cent—represents a failure of successive Governments to address the crisis in Scotland's private sector housing stock? Does he further agree that unless the Executive acts to remedy the situation urgently, it will represent a comprehensive failure to meet the needs of home owners and private renters, and will be proof positive that the Executive's failure on housing policy is not confined exclusively to the public sector?
I think that there was a question there somewhere.
Or a press release.
New Community Schools
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress new community schools in Scotland are making. (S1O-1578)
Thirty councils have established 37 new community school projects, involving over 150 schools. Each project has its management structures in place and has embarked on its planned work programme.
I thank the minister for his answer, but does he agree that the success or failure of new community schools will very much depend on how they engage with other agencies, with pupils and with parents, in the development of every child's education? Furthermore, what monitoring is taking place to ensure that all the schools in the pilot projects are true community schools and are not simply schools with extra resources?
Karen Gillon raises important points. I assure her that because those projects are a new initiative, we are monitoring their development. We hope that they will make a significant difference to education and to the integration of services that serve young people and the wider community around the schools. We want genuine culture change in those schools. I chair a group—made up of a range of professionals who are involved in the projects—that monitors the projects' progress.
Will the minister ensure that legislation is in place to ensure that Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Schools inspects those community schools in an holistic manner and not simply on narrow, educational performance indicators?
As Cathy Peattie knows, at yesterday's Education, Culture and Sport Committee, when it discussed the Standards in Scotland's Schools etc Bill, the Executive agreed to introduce an amendment at stage 3 to provide for a code of practice in relation to the inspection of schools. One of the reasons why we agreed to do so is that Cathy Peattie and others have argued that we are developing a new form of education and that we require to ensure that it is inspected appropriately. I can give her the reassurance that she seeks.
Lung Cancer
To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the "Health of the Nation" target has had upon death rates from lung cancer among women. (S1O-1567)
The "Health of the Nation" was an old policy document that set targets for England and did not apply in Scotland. The Scottish Executive's targets are set out in the white paper, "Towards a Healthier Scotland", which was endorsed by the Parliament last September. The latest figures show that mortality from lung cancer in Scottish women under 75 fell by 5.2 per cent between 1995 and 1998.
I thank the minister for her reply. Does she agree that the most effective method of preventing lung cancer is to continue to educate the public on the dangers of smoking? Is she aware of the work of Health Promotions in Aberdeen, which has been successful in achieving lower levels of smoking among women, especially in the 25-to-34 age bracket? Does she agree that continuing to put more resources into health promotion is probably the way forward?
I am very much aware of the work of Health Promotions in Aberdeen; indeed, I visited one of its premises recently, where its efforts were directed not towards smoking but towards diet. I was pleased to taste some of the samples that were offered by it and by the fishing industry that day.
The minister will be well aware of Scotland's especially poor record on survival rates for lung cancer. In light of that, will she explain why only around 5 per cent of patients in Scotland receive drug treatment for lung cancer, while in the United States, more than 50 per cent of patients receive drug therapy? The American five-year survival rate is more than double that of Scotland. Are not there lessons that we can learn from practice in the United States?
There are always lessons to be learned, but I am not sure that the United States is the first place that I would look to for lessons on health care systems.
Drug Courts
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to learn from the experience of drug courts in the United States. (S1O-1579)
I looked at a wide range of policies and practices on drug misuse during my recent visit to the United States, and I am sure that some lessons from the American experience would bear further examination. The Scottish Executive will explore how it might try to incorporate the key lessons from America into our own justice system during the coming weeks and months.
I thank the minister for that reply. Will he assure me that, although we need effective enforcement measures, we must also search for alternatives to incarceration? Perhaps he can tell us of one or two ideas that he might try to take forward that arise from practice in the United States.
The principal purpose of my visit to the United States was to examine the treatment, care, rehabilitation and education side of the drug misuse equation, rather than the enforcement side. One of the key messages of my experience was that an approach that uses a combination of enforcement and rehabilitation might bear further examination, with a view to promoting such an approach in Scotland. That will mean ensuring that offenders have the quickest possible access to a full range of drug treatment facilities in the community. I am glad to say that that is already at the heart of the drugs strategy that the Scottish Executive is pursuing in partnership with drug action teams throughout Scotland.
I wonder whether I should congratulate the minister on being more open in his attitude to new ideas, wherever they come from.
One of the heartening lessons that I learned from the United States arose from examination of the approach that has been taken there in the past 10 years. That approach demonstrates that research is a key priority for institutions in the United States when they determine practice in treatment and rehabilitation. That is heartening, because the Scottish Executive is pursuing exactly that tack. We have already asked the Scottish Advisory Committee on Drugs Misuse research sub-committee to prepare a draft programme for research. That programme will be published in May. The Executive is funding—to the tune of about £300,000—research on the incidence of drug misuse throughout Scotland. Such an evidence-based approach is crucial to ensuring that the treatment and care facilities that we put in place tackle the drug problems that we have, rather than those that we think we might have.
Student Finance
To ask the Scottish Executive when detailed guidance will be given to universities and colleges as to proposed arrangements for the new maintenance grant and graduate contribution scheme to be introduced in 2001. (S1O-1560)
We are very aware of the interest of universities, colleges and students in the arrangements for the new scheme and we are publishing a consultation document next month. Detailed guidance will follow the consultation period and the necessary legislative process.
Is the minister aware that many students, particularly at colleges, will make decisions this year that will be influenced by their knowledge of the financial regime that will operate in 2001? Does he accept that there is a need not just for the arrangements that he suggests but for detailed guidance and information on the proposals, to be given to students and staff at colleges and universities throughout Scotland? That should be done with immediate effect, as decisions have been made in principle on some of the important issues.
I am happy to give reassurance on that. As well as producing the consultation document, which will be a full document that will eventually go to the Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Committee, we are involved in a number of bilateral discussions, and material will be issued very soon. We are conscious that students are taking decisions early—even for next year.
Before giving guidance to universities and colleges on the implementation of the student finance regime, will the minister give further consideration to addressing the anomaly that has been created for Scotland-domiciled students who are studying at colleges and universities in England and Wales? Will he consider extending the financial regime to address the needs of students who attend courses that are available at universities and colleges in England and Wales but are not available in Scotland? The Liberal Democrats were committed to that at the elections to the Scottish Parliament.
I am happy to acknowledge the work that John Swinney's committee has done in this area. I assure him that the consultation on which we are about to embark will address those issues. Since the publication of our response to Cubie, there has been much debate on a variety of issues, such as on the payment of maintenance grants to students who are going down south, and those matters will be part of the wider consultation. It is important that we speak to Scotland. The Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Committee will be involved in that consultation.
Sheriff Courts (Guidance)
To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it provides to sheriff courts on granting bail to offenders who are awaiting sentence, having admitted multiple offences such as theft by house-breaking and robbery. (S1O-1588)
None. It would be inappropriate for the Scottish Executive to issue guidance to the judiciary on a matter that relates to the exercise of its discretion.
I understand that legal point. However, does the minister understand the anger that is felt in communities such as Seaton, Linksfield and Old Aberdeen in my constituency, when people see known serial offenders, such as serial house-breakers, walking away from court, free while awaiting sentence to commit exactly the same type of offences? Does he agree that the courts as well as the police have a role to play in tackling the growing incidence of drug-related theft, robbery and assault in city-centre communities in Aberdeen?
I certainly appreciate the sense of frustration that Lewis Macdonald describes. However, it is for the courts to determine whether to grant bail in the circumstances of a particular case. In doing so, they have to have regard to the well-established principles and precedents governing the exercise of that discretion that are set out in common law.
Does the minister agree that the import of European convention on human rights legislation—it is likely that there will be limitations on the refusal of bail—is likely to add greatly to his colleague's concerns?
We have been considering whether bail exclusions are compatible with the ECHR. We have said that we intend to introduce legislation in the near future to deal with certain ECHR issues. That question may be addressed in that legislation.
To follow on from Lewis Macdonald's points, with which I am happy to associate myself, is the minister aware that worrying statistics, released yesterday, show that Aberdeen has the highest level of recorded crime in the country and double the national average for house-breakings?
I would not want to pre-empt the conclusion of the budget discussions that are taking place within the Executive; the member will have to wait for announcements following the conclusion of those discussions.
I remind members that all pagers and telephones should be switched off in the chamber.
Genetically Modified Organisms
To ask the Scottish Executive when the genetically modified trial crop at Daviot will be planted. (S1O-1551)
Scottish ministers gave approval on 31 March for that trial of GM crops to proceed. I understand that two hectares of GM oil-seed rape were planted at Daviot last weekend.
Is the minister aware of the considerable concerns of beekeepers in the area, as set out in particular by Les Webster of the Scottish Beekeepers Association in The Herald this week? Is he aware of the specific concerns about the possibility of the honey-dew and nectar, as well as the pollen, ending up in the honey? Will he respond to the beekeepers' concerns?
I am well aware of the concerns that have been expressed by beekeepers. I assure members that no safety issues are involved—the safety of pollen moving on air currents, or being collected by bees, is always considered as part of the detailed environmental risk assessment that is undertaken by the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment. Indeed, a member of ACRE is an expert on bees and pollination. The ACRE risk assessment can include the implications of exposure to pollen through inhalation or pollen contamination of other food crops or honey. ACRE also examines the direct harm that might be caused to bees. I assure members that, in relation to the advice on the approvals for this particular crop, we received no adverse report from ACRE.
How frequently will the possible gene flow from the crops be monitored? Are we monitoring, this time, for gene flow from that planted crop into the surrounding environment?
I am not able to give Mr Harper the precise number of times; I will investigate the matter and respond to him in more detail. All I know is that, as part of the approval process, ACRE is required to monitor the parameters that it has set for the conduct of those trials. I will advise Mr Harper, and put that advice in the public domain.
Housing
To ask the Scottish Executive when it intends to publish the Ernst & Young report "Better Homes—Stronger Communities—a report on the Key Financial Issues" commissioned as part of the Glasgow stock transfer process. (S1O-1590)
Ernst & Young was engaged not by the Scottish Executive but by the Glasgow housing steering group. Copies of the Ernst & Young report were made available on 10 April, but I understand that Ernst & Young has arranged for both the summary and full copies of the document to be available in the Scottish Parliament information centre.
I am grateful that, with SNP prompting, the minister has made that report available; it has been paid for by the public purse.
I am disappointed by Fiona Hyslop's question. Ernst & Young was appointed by competitive tender. To date, Ernst & Young has been paid £130,000. I invite Fiona Hyslop to compare that with the £1,600 million that has been made available for investment in the city of Glasgow by the proposals that are on the table, including an average of £16,000 per unit to improve housing conditions. As members know, I believe that this matter is too important for political point scoring. I hope that we can find a degree of consensus about how to move forward.
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