Official Report 147KB pdf
Back-bench Members
14:30
We now move to First Minister’s questions for back-bench members. Today, and uniquely so far in this session, questions will be answered by the Deputy First Minister rather than the First Minister.
Public Sector Jobs
I welcome the Deputy First Minister to her dress rehearsal. Is she aware of a revelation in The Sunday Times this weekend that 800 ghost public sector workers—people whose jobs have gone but who are still turning up for work—are costing her Government £30 million per year? That includes one NHS Highland employee who is still clocking in 17 years after their role was made redundant. When the First Minister returns, will she take him aside, tell him to grow a spine, stand up to the public sector unions and finally drop the ridiculous policy of no compulsory redundancies in Scotland’s public sector?
I am aware of the article in The Sunday Times that Mr Hoy alludes to. It is really important to put on the record that the jobs that he is referring to are under way at the current time and that, across the public sector, our public bodies are expected to deliver value for money.
The figures that Mr Hoy cited include staff who have been redeployed and who are currently engaged in meaningful employment that is appropriate to their pay grade. Of course, the Scottish public finance manual sets out the requirements for each public body to achieve value for money, which is something that I thought Mr Hoy was supportive of in terms of the public purse. It is important that, as we drive forward our programme on public service reform, we engage with the Opposition. I look forward to continued engagement with Mr Hoy and his colleagues on these important points.
Storm Damage and Flooding (Largs and Saltcoats)
Largs and Saltcoats experienced significant damage due to the flooding over the weekend, and the towns face greater flooding risk as extreme weather events become more common. Can the Deputy First Minister outline whether financial support will be available to the businesses and individuals who are affected, whether Largs and Saltcoats will receive any of the new £5 million community flood resilience fund, and what further support can be given to reduce future risk?
Katy Clark raises a number of important points. In terms of the issues at Largs and Saltcoats, colleagues will have seen the footage of some really challenging weather over the course of the weekend. Mr Flynn was down in Largs only yesterday, meeting business owners and hearing about some of the challenges. The extensive damage that has happened was also discussed this morning at Cabinet.
Ms Clark asked about the support that will be available for the community. As I understand it, at the current time, that has not yet been forthcoming from North Ayrshire Council. Indeed, that point was put to the council at yesterday’s meeting of the Scottish Government resilience room. There will be another SGoRR meeting at 4 o’clock today, so I will be more than happy to follow up with the member on those points after that. Of course, we will listen to any calls for help in that regard and respond accordingly, given the extensive damage that has happened, particularly in relation to flooding.
Storm Damage (Moray)
Storm Boelo caused a great deal of disruption in my Moray constituency, and communities in other parts of Scotland have also seen significant damage, as referred to by Katy Clark. Tragically, two men lost their lives during the storm and, of course, our thoughts are with their loved ones.
After three consecutive days of weather warnings, can the Deputy First Minister provide an update on the Scottish Government’s response to the storm and the anticipated further adverse weather conditions this week?
I extend my condolences and those of the Scottish Government to the families and loved ones of the two men who lost their lives in the storms this weekend.
The Scottish Government resilience room was activated on Friday, as I mentioned in my response to Katy Clark, and ministers and officials have been engaged with front-line agencies over the course of the weekend, to tackle the impacts that Laura Mitchell and Katy Clark have mentioned.
As members know, communities up and down the country have experienced power cuts, flooding, school closures and transport disruption. I pay tribute to staff who have led the response to the storm, particularly those braving the worst of the weather. This morning, just under 7,000 customers remained off supply. That remains of significant concern to the Scottish Government, which is exactly why SGoRR will reconvene following First Minister’s questions this afternoon.
Flood Defences (Renfrew)
Renfrewshire Council chose not to deploy physical flood defence barriers in Renfrew—part of a £10 million scheme—during an amber weather warning, because of an apparent failure in forecasting. Businesses such as McGregor’s Bar and Ferry Nice Food have been left devastated with uninsured losses after the weekend’s floods. What is the Deputy First Minister’s response to that operational failure by the council? What financial support will be provided by the Government to affected businesses and individuals in Renfrew? What urgent action will the Scottish Government take to ensure that local authorities actually use the physical flood defences that they have spent taxpayers’ money on?
Mr Bibby refers to a local decision about flooding and the infrastructure that exists in Renfrewshire, and that would, of course, be a matter for the local authority. However, we will engage with the local authority directly. As I understand it, it has also been engaged in the SGoRR meetings that have been taking place. As I intimated, there will be a meeting later today, at 4 o’clock. It is not for the Government to instruct local authorities to use their flooding resources—I see the member nodding. We would expect them to deploy those resources, given the circumstances.
I should put on record that there were challenges around the weather and the forecasting, which at times caused a level of challenge across the country. However, I am more than happy to pick up the member’s point with officials in relation to the local authority that he mentioned, and I will make sure that it is engaged in the SGoRR call that will take place at 4 o’clock this afternoon.
Oil and Gas Revenue
Last week, the Labour chancellor admitted what we have said for decades: that our energy resources have been squandered and Scotland’s £1 trillion future was stolen from us. We now know that Labour’s new energy wealth fund will use oil and gas reserves from our waters to pay for projects in England. History is repeating itself. Given that the United Kingdom budget statement will be made tomorrow, does the Deputy First Minister agree that every single penny of Scottish oil and gas revenue must be invested right back into Scottish renewables, because we can never let Westminster steal our future from us again?
I absolutely agree with the sentiment behind Clare Haughey’s question. Of course, the Scottish National Party has been calling for the establishment of a wealth fund for decades, so it is welcome that Scottish Labour has now joined those calls. The call for reinvestment in renewables, particularly in the north-east of Scotland, is certainly welcome. Over the years, £400 billion of revenues have flowed to the Treasury, so it is high time that those revenues came back to Scotland to be reinvested in communities in the area where they came from and to help drive the economic growth that we need to support our constituents.
Jackdaw and Rosebank Oil and Gas Fields
Can the Deputy First Minister confirm to the people of Aberdeen whether she is happy with the approval of Jackdaw and say whether she would like Rosebank to be approved for the benefit of the entire north-east?
The approval of Jackdaw was a decision for the United Kingdom Government. In our view, it has taken too long to come to that decision, which has created uncertainty—[Interruption.]
Excuse me. Let us hear the Deputy First Minister, please.
However, with that certainty, we very much hope that we will be able to move forward and that the jobs that will be created as a result will benefit the local economy.
Hoax Bomb Threats (Disinformation)
The Deputy First Minister will be aware of the significant disruption to schools in Glasgow as a result of hoax bomb threats that were called in and that affected many parts of the country, but particularly Glasgow. Hoax threats of that kind are clearly deeply irresponsible, but these ones were quickly identified as hoaxes. It was when people were subject to disinformation through social media that the most significant impacts happened, particularly in the most deprived areas, where the number of children being held back from school significantly increased.
How does the Government support local authorities to respond to such situations? Does the Deputy First Minister agree that the situation underscores the need for the Government to develop a disinformation strategy to protect people when that kind of information is misrepresented?
I thank Mr Harvie for raising that important point. I know, for example, that there were issues in Edinburgh, with teachers being sent home who were undertaking their in-service training day on returning from the October break. There have been challenges across the country. As I understand it, Mr Gray has engaged with Police Scotland on the resilience work that is being undertaken on that.
The substantive point of Mr Harvie’s question about absence in poorer communities in particular is important. We have a number of programmes running, including the pupil equity fund, which helps to support the work on attendance.
On his broader point about disinformation, there are significant challenges in that regard. He will be aware of the work with the Time for Inclusive Education campaign through the digital discourse initiative, which the Government has supported through the programme for government. I am sure that the Cabinet Secretary for Education, Culture and Gaelic would be happy to engage with Mr Harvie more generally on the points about the education support that is available.
Palantir Technologies
Palantir Technologies has reportedly secured contracts worth almost £1 billion in the United Kingdom, including in the public sector, through NHS England and the Ministry of Defence. That is despite serious concerns over the company’s record relating to reported human rights abuses and surveillance and data privacy issues. Can the Deputy First Minister reassure those in Scotland who fear that we could follow the same path and commit to keeping Palantir out of the public sector?
I confirm to Iris Duane that we are not currently aware of any contracts in the national health service in Scotland in relation to Palantir. I hope that that will reassure the member on those points, given the considerable and understandable concern that has been raised in recent months about the operations of the company, particularly in our healthcare system.
Smoking Reduction (Child Poverty)
Official figures reveal that, last year, more than £112 million was spent on legally purchased cigarettes in Ayrshire, which is almost four times the £30 million that was spent on the Scottish child payment for Ayrshire children. Given that studies conclusively prove that poverty and cigarette consumption are directly related, does the Deputy First Minister agree that redoubling efforts to reduce smoking in socioeconomically challenged communities will not only improve people’s health but have a positive impact on reducing child poverty?
I agree with Patricia Gibson’s points on tobacco in relation to health impacts, health outcomes, household income and supporting our wider efforts to tackle poverty. That is why we are committed to achieving a tobacco-free Scotland by 2034. The Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026 will create a smoke-free generation by ensuring that anyone who was born after 1 January 2009 can never legally be sold tobacco. The act will also strengthen restrictions on advertising and promotion and introduce further controls on the sale of nicotine products, helping to prevent addiction in the first place. Those who smoke can access wider support through Scotland’s quit your way services.
Hyperscale Data Centres (Planning Applications)
On 16 September, the Parliament, with the Government’s support, voted in favour of a motion requiring new national planning guidance on applications for hyperscale data centres. That motion stated that no decisions on planning or consenting should be made until the Scottish Government publishes the guidance, by the end of this calendar year. However, the Larbert data centre application is still due to be determined by Falkirk Council on 13 November. Is the Deputy First Minister aware that some councils are progressing regardless of that vote? Will her Government step in to ensure that no decision is taken until the guidance is available?
Jenny Young will be aware that I cannot comment on specific applications. However, she will also be aware—and she was right to set out to the Parliament—that, back in August, the Minister for Public Finance made it clear to the Parliament, through a Government-initiated question, that planning guidance will be published before Christmas. The mandating of environmental impact assessments for all data centres that exceed 50MW of power capacity applies to new and existing applications.
To respond to Jenny Young’s substantive point, I note that ministers have call-in powers. Although I will not comment on specific applications, we can also recall any planning appeal rather than have the decision made by the Scottish Government reporter. I want to give some reassurance on those points without commenting on the specific nature of the application that the member has highlighted, given the restrictions that apply to ministers in that regard.
Coul Links Golf Course
Last week, the Scottish Government ignored local public opinion and rejected the application for Coul Links golf course in my constituency. Ministers said no to 400 full-time equivalent jobs, no to £12 million per year for the local economy, no to £1 million for habitat restoration and no to a community share that would have been worth hundreds of thousands of pounds per year. Given that Sutherland faces severe population decline, many of my constituents simply despair at that decision. Does the Deputy First Minister understand why that is? Will she explain to my constituents how she intends to replace the opportunities that the Government has rejected?
Mr Green is right to say that ministers have refused planning permission for the Coul Links golf course. The case has been ongoing for several years. The rationale behind the decision relates to adverse impacts on nationally and internationally important natural heritage interests. I recognise the significant public interest in the case. It should be said that strong views have been expressed on both sides—by supporters of the proposal, as Mr Green has set out, but also by opponents.
The Government is committed to supporting sustainable economic growth across the Highlands. Our decision letter accepts that the proposal would deliver local and regional tourism, as Mr Green set out. However, it concluded that those benefits would not outweigh the identified impacts on nationally and internationally important natural heritage interests—that is, the Loch Fleet site of special scientific interest, the Dornoch Firth and the Loch Fleet Ramsar site.
The full reasoning for the ministers’ decision is set out in the decision letter and the accompanying reporters’ report, which is published on the planning and environmental appeals website. I cannot comment beyond what was set out in those documents, as Mr Green will understand.
Ferguson Marine (Tugboat Order)
Will the Deputy First Minister provide an update on the recently announced tugboat order that has been considered for Ferguson Marine in Port Glasgow?
As the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Tourism and Transport set out recently, the Government is working closely with Ferguson Marine to progress the commercial, financial and governance arrangements that are required to enable the yard to commence manufacture of the proposed tug boats as quickly as possible. The work is very much intended to support the retention of valuable shipbuilding skills and to sustain productive activity at the yard while longer-term opportunities continue.
As discussions are ongoing, a number of the details remain commercially sensitive at the current time, but the Government will update Parliament at the appropriate time when those arrangements have been finalised.
Secondary Breast Cancer
What progress has the Scottish Government made to improve data collection and access to treatment for patients who are diagnosed with secondary breast cancer?
I thank Mr Carson for his question in relation to secondary breast cancer. I think that it would be appropriate for me to ask the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Care to write to him about the specifics and to provide an update on the data that he asked for.
Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete
The Deputy First Minister knows that Dundee is the city that is most exposed to RAAC, with council tenants and home owners being significantly affected. Last night, Dundee City Council agreed to a remediation programme, but that does not remove RAAC from affected properties or address the key concerns of home owners, who fear that no amount of remediation will prevent significant financial loss to them.
Will the Scottish Government commit to working with Dundee City Council, the Dundee RAAC campaign group, including home owners, and the United Kingdom Government to develop a plan that will deal with all the concerns that remain unanswered?
I have seen the reports today and I know that the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice and Housing has been engaged with officials and Dundee City Council on the matter over a number of years. The issues in relation to RAAC predate devolution, so, when we talk about some of the spending that is involved, we need to talk about a partnership approach in relation to the role of the United Kingdom Government.
We have been very clear that we would consider requests from local authorities for flexibility to look at solutions that are bespoke to local circumstances. However, the UK Government has greater financial flexibility to step up a dedicated RAAC remediation fund—so far, it has failed to do so. We will continue to work with local government and encourage home owners to engage with it locally. I am sure that the housing secretary will be more than happy to engage with the member on the substantive point that she raised.
Police Numbers
Given that sexual offences and rapes have seen an upward trend over a 10-year period in Glasgow—with around 486 reported rapes and attempted rapes recorded annually, which averages out to roughly one every 18 hours—and given the Scottish Police Authority’s recent report on the financial crisis that is engulfing Police Scotland, does the Deputy First Minister accept that Scotland needs to have more police officers on our streets, and not fewer? What action will she take to reverse the decline in police numbers?
I thank the member for his question and particularly for his interest in sexual crimes and domestic abuse cases. Recorded crime is down by almost half from its peak, back in 1991, but we are concerned by the increases in recorded crimes that we have seen in recent years, and particularly in sexual crimes and domestic abuse. Part of that is about reporting and people having confidence in coming forward, and part of it relates to the Lord Advocate’s changes, which the First Minister has set out to Parliament.
On the member’s point about police numbers, I will be meeting the chief constable about that in the coming weeks, ahead of the budget. However, we have more officers per 10,000 people in Scotland than in England and Wales, and our officers receive the best pay in the United Kingdom at the minimum and the maximum of each rank. As of 31 March this year, there were around 30 full-time officers per 10,000 people in Scotland, compared with around 24 per 10,000 in England and Wales.
Mental Health Services
The allocation of funding last week to reduce waiting times in the national health service is welcome. However, psychiatry has not been included among the specialist services that are receiving funding, despite record levels of demand and significant vacancies across the workforce. Can the Deputy First Minister explain why psychiatry was not included? Does she agree that reaching parity of esteem between physical and mental health support will require greater prioritisation of clinical mental health services?
I am pleased that Joe Long welcomes the additional investment that the Government has been able to confirm in recent weeks, particularly in relation to driving down waiting times. Waiting times, and long waits in particular, continue to fall.
Joe Long made a specific point in relation to psychiatric care. I did not quite catch the last part of his question on mental health provision, but we have also been able to provide significant additionality for services in relation to mental health. I will take the member’s specific point away and come back to him via officials in relation to the offer around how that £90 million could be diverted. I do not have the specific information in front of me today, so, if the member will allow me to, I will come back to him in writing.
Rest and Be Thankful
The Deputy First Minister will know of the demonstration at the Rest and Be Thankful, involving many local hauliers and farmers coming together to highlight the route’s vital importance. I am pleased that the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Tourism and Transport is meeting the community later this week. Everyone in Argyll and Bute knows that a long-term solution to the threat of landslides is needed. However, the current proposals to introduce a single-lane convoy system for four years would be catastrophic to business, while also creating serious risks for emergency services. Given the strong local feelings that have been highlighted by a petition that already has more than 8,000 signatories, will the Scottish Government reconsider the single-lane convoy plan?
I am sure that I have met and engaged with a number of the protesters in a previous life when I was the Minister for Transport. I understand the local strength of feeling about the Rest and Be Thankful. The Government and the transport secretary are focused on coming to a solution and delivering it. Transport Scotland has undertaken further design and appraisal work in consultation with the A83 campaign group about an alternative, two-way, medium-term option. As the member said, the transport secretary will be meeting Ms Minto and members of the campaign group on Thursday to hear their views, and he will take a decision in due course.
Fire Service (Hawick)
Last night, at a packed meeting at Hawick town hall, residents called for a review of the recent decision to hollow out the fire service in Hawick to a daytime service only. Trauma survivors shared powerful stories and accounts of how firefighters had saved their lives with minutes to spare, yet Scottish National Party cuts have hollowed out services and there has been a reduction in response times. Will the Deputy First Minister commit to ensuring that her justice secretary meets residents to hear their stories, and will she consider an independent review of the decision?
The review that the member alluded to is based on service demands. The member has raised a local issue, and I am sure that the justice secretary has heard Ms Hamilton’s point and will engage with her on it. This year’s budget provides, in totality, an additional £23.8 million. That shows our continued commitment to supporting the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to deliver the high standard of service that is required to keep Scotland safe.
GlenWyvis Distillery
When the GlenWyvis distillery in my constituency received a £0.5 million Government-funded loan, ministers rushed to welcome the investment as a means of safeguarding jobs and supporting growth, yet the business had already ceased production and was embroiled in long-standing financial and legal difficulties. Will the Deputy First Minister explain what assessment ministers made of those risks before publicly endorsing the investment? Was the Government advised that the distillery’s future was already in doubt?
I do not have the details of the GlenWyvis distillery, but I am more than happy to engage with officials and to come back with substantive points. It would be remiss of me to suggest otherwise, and it is important to provide a detailed response, so I will ask the relevant minister and officials to engage with him.
Care Experienced Week
As someone who is care experienced, I know how important it is for care-experienced people to have a voice in the decisions that affect them. As we mark care experienced week, can the Deputy First Minister tell me what more the Scottish Government can do to ensure that care-experienced people shape the services that they use?
I share Zen Ghani’s acknowledgement of care experience week. I recognise that care-experienced young people must not simply be consulted but must be part of shaping the decisions and policies that affect their lives. That is at the very heart of the Promise. We continue to support organisations, including The Promise Scotland, Who Cares? Scotland, and Each and Every Child, which create opportunities for people with lived experience to influence change. As we implement legislation and reforms, we will continue to ensure that care-experienced children, young people and adults are directly involved in shaping how changes are delivered in practice, and we will ensure that we speak to care-experienced young people directly. The Promise will be kept by 2030. The Government is doing all it can to make that progress happen.
Renewables Development (Barriers)
Following last week’s decision on Jackdaw, which was welcomed by trade unions, Scottish Renewables has called for further action to support clean energy investment. SSE has also announced hundreds of skilled offshore wind jobs, including 400 in Scotland. What action is the Deputy First Minister taking to press the United Kingdom Government to remove the barriers to further renewables development, particularly transmission charging, so that we can deliver more skilled jobs for communities across Scotland?
Karen Adam is right. Those jobs demonstrate the economic opportunities that the transition is already delivering for the north-east of Scotland. However, Scotland could support more jobs and attract further investment if our renewables generators were not held back by a transmission charging system that is unfit for purpose. That system unfairly penalises projects in Scotland, despite the immense contribution that they make to the UK’s clean energy ambitions. We have raised the issue with the UK Government many times, over an extended period, and have been clear that it cannot go on. The UK Government must now bring forward a long-term plan and interim measures to address the impact on Scottish generators. Unlocking our renewables potential is essential to delivering the economic growth that Karen Adam rightly speaks of.
Back-up Power Generators (Care Homes)
Does the Deputy First Minister agree that care home residents should not be left relying on borrowed generators every time a storm downs the network? During storm Eowyn, care homes in Inverclyde had to be supplied with generators from Scottish Power. Will the Deputy First Minister tell Parliament how many Scottish care homes have any back-up power? I know from asking that an Edinburgh care home has no backup power and relies on the energy companies. If she cannot come up with that number, will she commit to an audit to see what the situation is and whether something should be done before January, which the National Energy System Operator says is the tightest month?
The situation that Helen McDade has set out is not acceptable in any way, shape or form—I want to make that very clear.
The Government has a system in place for the management of incidents, through which it works closely with resilience leads in our local authorities, health boards and integration joint boards in the event of a storm.
My understanding is that all care home residents—she has documented one case today, but there has been more than one—are safe and accounted for, and no evacuation was necessary. Officials are monitoring the situation and the wider impacts of the storm more generally. There will be a SGORR—Scottish Government resilience room—call at 4 o’clock today, and we may be able to share further information with the member following that call.
Pupil Violence
The City of Edinburgh Council has paid more than £250,000 in compensation to support staff who were injured through pupil violence. Staff are being assaulted, councils are paying compensation, and unions have warned repeatedly that discipline is breaking down in too many schools. Given that the evidence is already in front of the Deputy First Minister, it is not acceptable to still be reviewing the issue. Instead, will the Deputy First Minister explain to us what action she will be taking to resolve it?
As Angela Ross may know, I took a range of different actions on that exact issue as education secretary over the past three years, not least in relation to the national action plan and to the budget agreement that was reached last year, which provided an uplift in funding related to additional support needs and to the number of teachers in our schools. Those are both fundamental elements in responding to some of the challenges that the member has rightly set out.
I would be more than happy to engage with the member ahead of the budget if she wants to talk about some of the issues that she has raised. However, more broadly, it is important to recognise that Ms McAllan is now leading on the action plan on behaviour in schools, and that the improvements that we are seeing across the board are being supported by a range of different partners.
Winter Pressures (Hospitals)
In August, almost 51,000 people had to wait more than four hours at accident and emergency, which is the worst figure ever recorded for this time of year. Nine out of 10 accident and emergency doctors say that emergency departments are simply not ready for winter. We are seeing increasing use of corridor care, which is not safe. The Royal College of Emergency Medicine is pushing for a clear definition of corridor care and for the collection and reporting of data. Does the Deputy First Minister agree with that, and will she commit the Government to ending the unsafe practice of corridor care?
Jackie Baillie raises a very important and timely point, given that we are approaching the winter period. I am assured by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Care that that is in hand, and I think that she gave an update to Parliament in recent weeks on that exact point.
If we look at some of the Scottish Ambulance Service data for the week ending 18 October, we can see that the median response time was 7 minutes and 40 seconds. The SAS is making progress more broadly in ensuring that only those patients who need to be prioritised and taken to A and E are transported. Last week, for example, more than half—54.1 per cent—of Scottish Ambulance Service emergency incidents were managed without any need for transfer to hospital. That is important in the context of Jackie Baillie’s question on the approach to winter pressures. That approach is centred on ensuring that people receive timely, safe and effective care throughout periods of increased demand.
Jackie Baillie’s point about data has been addressed by the health secretary in the chamber. I am sure that the cabinet secretary would be happy to engage with Ms Baillie on the substantive points as we approach winter. We will, of course, be engaging with Parliament, too.
The rest of this Official Report will be published progressively as soon as the text is available.
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