SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE
Education and Lifelong Learning
Science Education
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to support science education. (S3O-4962)
The Government is fully committed to supporting science education. That is being addressed through the curriculum for excellence, the Scottish science baccalaureate and the new science framework that I announced to Parliament this morning.
My question is on an issue that was not covered in this morning's statement. The cabinet secretary will be aware of the controversy that broke out in the Royal Society in recent months over calls to allow the teaching of creationism within the science curriculum in England and Wales. What is the Scottish Government's position? Should Scottish schools be actively challenging absurd, superstitious notions such as creationism and intelligent design?
Scottish schools and the Scottish Government would challenge creationism if it were taught in our schools. However, Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education reports that no schools in Scotland currently conduct education on creationism.
Earlier, the minister announced details of the science baccalaureate. She did not answer my question then, so perhaps she will have another go at answering. Is she aware that there is grave concern about the science baccalaureate among teachers, headteachers, parents and university staff? Will she agree to publish the evidence that there is demand for the proposed change?
I am certainly prepared to publish the support that we have for the proposal. The member's concern is misplaced and she exaggerates in saying that there are grave concerns. I think that stretching our most able pupils will be welcomed. Many parents and secondary 6 pupils report to me that pupils drift through S6 if they have already been successful in their application for university. We need to challenge our brightest and best if we are to capitalise on science in the future as we take ourselves through the economic downturn.
Question 2 has been withdrawn.
Small Businesses (Staff Training)
To ask the Scottish Executive what support and funding it is providing to small businesses to assist them in training their staff. (S3O-5001)
Through Skills Development Scotland, we provide support for learning and skills development in small businesses. Sector skills councils also play an active role in assessing skills and training needs and in influencing education and training provision to ensure that those needs are met.
Does the minister agree that small businesses, including hauliers, are vital to the Scottish economy? The United Kingdom Government has provided £350 million for their training needs. What is the Scottish Government doing?
The Scottish Government intervenes in skills in a number of ways through Skills Development Scotland, which came out of the skills strategy. If Ms Peattie writes to me on her specific point about hauliers and transport firms, I will see what I can do.
One of the main problems for small businesses is their lack of capacity to let staff off site for training. Might the Government think about creating a web-based training programme so that people could receive some basic training on site without the business needing to close down while they are away?
The member makes a fair point. The Scottish Government supports the use of web-based training and e-learning where appropriate. We encourage all businesses that face the challenge that the member mentions to contact their respective sector skills councils and Skills Development Scotland to identify innovative work-based interventions. We realise that small businesses need more bite-sized courses than full-blown programmes.
Scottish Borders Council (Children's Services)
To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met officials from Scottish Borders Council's education department. (S3O-4956)
The Minister for Schools and Skills and I met Scottish Borders Council on 27 August 2008. Officials from the Scottish Government met Scottish Borders Council's director for education and lifelong learning on 18 October 2008 while on a routine visit to the local authority.
The minister is aware that Scottish Borders Council will shortly consider whether to adopt the recommendations contained in its "Transforming Children's Services" report, which, among other things, could see a number of schools being forced to share headteachers. I do not expect the minister to comment on specific proposals, but will he reassure me, teaching staff and parents that the Government will not allow Scottish Borders Council to implement any proposals that could adversely affect the education of young people in the Borders?
As the member ought to know, Scottish Borders Council's education budget will increase by 3.2 per cent from £89.3 million this year to £97.8 million next year. Funding pressures are not a problem for the "Transforming Children's Services" project.
Bullying (Schools)
To ask the Scottish Executive what initiatives are taking place to reduce bullying in the school environment. (S3O-5033)
The Scottish Government supports all those who work directly with children and young people to prevent and tackle bullying effectively. We provide that support in various ways. We wholly fund respectme, Scotland's anti-bullying service, which provides advice, information, resources, support and training to develop, refresh and support the implementation of anti-bullying policies in schools, local authorities and communities, and to build capacity to prevent and deal effectively with bullying. We also provide funding of £160,000 per year for three years to the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children for the ChildLine bullying helpline that helps children who are directly affected by bullying.
Will the minister regularly review the anti-bullying strategies that are operated by schools, education departments and local authorities to ensure that no one in the school environment is subjected to bullying behaviour, whether they be pupils or staff, particularly those children who are on the autistic spectrum, and other children who are vulnerable?
All bullying, wherever it happens, is unacceptable and must be tackled. Bullying is not, and should never be seen as, a normal part of growing up. The Government is committed to tackling and preventing bullying.
Does the minister believe that the cuts in pupil support that have taken place in local authorities around the country have helped or hindered her anti-bullying strategy? How many anti-bullying initiatives have local authorities ended and how many have they initiated since the concordat was signed?
I am not aware that any anti-bullying initiatives have been stopped. As my colleague said, funding to local government has increased, so the money is there for it to use. Given that take-up of the anti-bullying resources has been widespread throughout the country, I am not aware that the issue is not firmly on the agenda of schools and local authorities.
Early Years Education
To ask the Scottish Executive what its plans are for early years education. (S3O-5004)
The Scottish Government is committed to giving children the best possible start in life. That is why we have increased entitlement to pre-school education and announced a further increase from August 2010; we are making significant progress towards a 50 per cent increase in entitlement. The concordat includes a commitment to improve the quality of early years provision by giving every pre-school child access to a teacher. In parallel, we have developed a new standard in childhood practice and are supporting new qualifications that will improve the skills base of the non-teaching workforce.
Is the minister aware that Government statistics show that while in 2007 the number of whole-time equivalent nursery teachers was 1,685.6, in 2008 it was 1,672? Those are Government figures, which have been provided by the Scottish Parliament information centre. Will that reduction in the number of nursery teachers improve nursery education for Scotland's children? Does the minister intend to take steps to increase the number of whole-time equivalent nursery teachers in Scotland—yes or no?
I have given answers to that question in the past—I recall Mr Macintosh pressing me on the point—and the First Minister was asked a similar question. [Interruption.]
Order.
It was made clear in all those answers that we are dealing with two different sets of figures. There is inconsistency and double counting with regard to previous years.
They are the Government's figures.
I am explaining the differences. The reality is that this Administration has turned round the situation that we inherited, whereby nursery teacher numbers were falling across Scotland. The situation has bottomed out and we are now back on the up curve. I certainly want that figure to improve over the next few years.
Is the Scottish Government able to confirm whether it is having regular discussions with voluntary sector groups that are involved in providing support for young parents with children in the early years?
We most certainly are. Not only are we having discussions with them, but we are asking them to participate in initiatives. For example, in the construction of our early years framework we have been remarkably all-encompassing in bringing together people who have a vital interest in that area. I hope to make an announcement in that regard in the next few weeks.
I have a point of clarification. Are the nursery teacher figures "substantially increasing"?
Certainly, if we look at the situation—
Yes or no.
Ms Brankin, I would like to hear the answer.
Given that about 200 teachers were double counted in the year before last and that the same figure is being reported for this year, we can certainly make a case for a substantial increase.
UHI Millennium Institute (University Title)
To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made towards granting university title to the university of the Highlands and Islands, given that it now has the ability to award its own taught degrees. (S3O-5018)
The Scottish Government, the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and the Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Council are actively working with the UHI Millennium Institute to assist with its preparations for an application for university title. The timing of such an application to the Privy Council is ultimately a matter for the UHI Millennium Institute in the light of its assessment of its ability to reach the quality and standards that university title in Scotland carries with it.
I hope that the cabinet secretary agrees that it would seem appropriate for the UHI to achieve full university status in the year of homecoming, given that the collegiate model that it represents has been exported throughout the world, and that the UHI can and will play a huge role in leading the Highlands and Islands towards sustainable development.
I recognise and share the member's ambition, and perhaps impatience, to proceed to university title. However, it is important that we recognise that university status will be granted not only on the basis of taught-degree awarding powers, but on the basis of research. That is a differentiation between the Scottish university system and the system in England, where the number of teaching-only institutions is increasing. We are working extremely hard on the issue. Meetings took place as recently as 4 October. Scottish Government officials and the sponsoring universities are working to ensure that provisions are in place and that the concerns that the QAA has raised are dealt with swiftly but properly, to allow university title to be granted.
Will the cabinet secretary join me in congratulating Professor Bob Cormack and his team on their tremendous efforts in gaining taught-degree awarding status? Does she share my view that full title will enable the UHI to become an agent of economic and social regeneration in the Highlands and Islands?
Indeed, I do. There is great excitement, not only about the potential for the UHI, but about the existing research, the standards that are being transmitted and the co-operation, intellectually and academically, throughout Scotland, supported by other universities. University title for the UHI will be a driver for economic progress for the Highlands and Islands. Its innovative way of working will be a benchmark for other institutions in Scotland and elsewhere—they will want to follow that approach.
Dumfries and Galloway Council<br />(Education Budget)
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received from Dumfries and Galloway Council with regard to pressures on its education budget. (S3O-4997)
The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth and I discussed a number of issues, including education budgets, when we met Dumfries and Galloway Council on 29 July 2008.
Is the cabinet secretary therefore aware that the council's education budget is forecast to be overspent by £833,000; that, on top of that, reducing class sizes in primary 1 to primary 3 to a maximum of 18 pupils will cost Dumfries and Galloway £2 million; and that providing free school meals for all pupils in P1 to P3 will cost the council £900,000? Does the cabinet secretary expect her policy priorities in Dumfries and Galloway Council to be funded by cuts elsewhere in the education budget?
We expect that the welcome policies on the extension of free school meals for P1 to P3 and the reduction in class sizes will be met from the agreed provisions of the local government settlement for the next three years. As the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities has acknowledged, the resources are in place for maintaining teacher numbers in the face of falling school rolls. As the member knows, Dumfries and Galloway has an ageing population, so there is potential to use the headroom resulting from falling rolls to ensure that teachers are employed in classrooms.
Question 9 was not lodged.
Biometric Fingerprinting (Schools)
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with local authorities on the use of biometric fingerprinting in schools. (S3O-5028)
I congratulate the Presiding Officer on reaching question 10.
Several constituents have approached me because they have not been consulted on the matter by their local authority. Does the cabinet secretary agree that parents should always be consulted on such issues?
Yes, and the consultation on the guidance makes that point. Indeed, the position was raised initially by Patrick Harvie in discussions of previous legislation in this Parliament.
Europe, External Affairs and Culture
International Development (Budget)
To ask the Scottish Executive what allocation is made to the Indian subcontinent from its international development budget. (S3O-4994)
We have not as yet made any specific funding allocations within the international development fund to the Indian subcontinent development programme.
I express a bit of surprise that no allocation has yet been made, given that the Indian subcontinent has been incorporated into the international development plan. Will the minister tell us when we will see details on the allocation and will she give us a broad outline of the purpose of including it in the international development policy? When will we see hard copy, or details on the website, of where she intends to go with the policy?
There is quite a lot in this. It is important that we take the time, as we did with other areas of the international development policy when we focused and streamlined the policy, to consider where Scotland can add value and develop a robust programme that will deliver sustainable results. We have been keen to investigate the Indian subcontinent because of our historical links with the area, and to reflect modern patterns of migration and the cultural diversity in Scotland. It was selected in recognition of those links, to build a strong, fair and inclusive national identity and to express solidarity with communities that are represented in Scottish society. Such links are not altogether new: we already have a number of continuing commitments in Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Quite rightly, commitments that were made by the previous Administration focused on humanitarian aid. We will take lessons from that work into account as we move forward.
Scottish Mining Museum
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to secure the future of the Scottish mining museum in Newtongrange. (S3O-4970)
The Scottish Government has recently received advice from Historic Scotland on the state of the Scottish mining museum buildings and we are considering with the museum the case for potential capital funding over the current spending review period. We expect the museum to provide further details shortly.
I take this opportunity to reiterate to the minister that the buildings at the Scottish mining museum—the former Lady Victoria colliery—form Europe's best preserved 19th century pit complex and are hugely important to Scotland, not just to Midlothian. Last year, the museum was voted by the public Scotland's most treasured place.
Revenue funding is a matter for Museums Galleries Scotland, which deals with the industrial museums. This Government takes seriously the matter of capital funding for the industrial museums, whereas the previous Administration provided no capital assistance to such museums. We have already given £60,000 to the Scottish maritime museum and £25,000 to the Scottish mining museum for urgent repairs.
Will the minister join me in congratulating those who run Scotland's museums and buildings of historic importance—including Bothwell castle in my area—on marking St Andrew's day by offering free admission? Does she agree that St Andrew's day is an appropriate time to celebrate Scotland's heritage and culture and will she encourage people to take up that free admission offer?
Absolutely. As part of St Andrew's day, many of Scotland's visitor attractions will be open free of charge or at discounted prices. Castles, museums, gardens and abbeys throughout Scotland will be participating as part of a joint initiative between the National Trust for Scotland, Historic Scotland and the Association of Scottish Visitor Attractions. The initiative was designed to encourage Scots and visitors to Scotland to celebrate Scotland's heritage and culture on Scotland's national day.
Department for International Development (Headquarters)
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans the Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture has to visit the headquarters of the Department for International Development in East Kilbride. (S3O-4977)
I have no plans to visit the headquarters of the Department for International Development in East Kilbride in the near future.
I am absolutely astonished by that answer. The minister says that she has no plans to visit the headquarters, yet a few weeks ago she said that her international development plans were going to be closely integrated with the Department for International Development's work. Forty per cent of the DFID staff are at East Kilbride, including the civil society unit, which spends hundreds of millions of pounds in Malawi and elsewhere. When I was a minister there, I hosted a meeting with the President of Malawi.
The member should ask a question, please.
Would not the minister's rhetoric about integrating with the Department for International Development's programme and making her work complementary be more acceptable, and more like the reality, if she took the trouble to go to East Kilbride—it is not far away—to talk to the people who know what they are doing in international development, unlike her?
I visited DFID's Scottish headquarters on Friday 7 November—three weeks ago. There are currently no plans to undertake another visit but, as always, we will continue to liaise with DFID.
Local Newspapers
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that Scotland's culture is enhanced by a viable local newspaper sector. (S3O-5034)
Yes. Both the local and national newspaper sectors play an important part in reflecting the character and identity of Scotland. Newspapers also play a vital role in providing plurality in the media, which is important to democracy.
The minister will be aware that the BBC Trust has said that it does not support plans for the BBC to get into the local and community digital broadcasting market, partly because of competition arguments. Does the Scottish Government have a policy view on that? Does she agree that Scotland's cultural identity is reflected and given colour by the diversity of our regional and local newspapers? Do ministers recognise the importance of local newspapers and will they do whatever they can to ensure that such newspapers continue to operate vigorously and independently?
We acknowledge a lot of the points that Robert Brown has made. Following the provisional conclusions of the BBC Trust, I encourage members to keep up the campaign that has been started, if they feel strongly about it. Local newspapers play a very important part in all our communities. Mr Brown might be interested to know that the First Minister, Mr Swinney and Mr Stevenson have all met press and print media associations over the past year because those associations have expressed concern about the potential loss of revenue to local newspapers.
Will the minister amplify her reply to include the value to Scottish culture of a healthy and competitive television industry?
Yes, of course—I am happy to do that. A healthy and competitive television industry is vital to Scottish culture, which is why the Scottish Broadcasting Commission looked specifically at culture as one of its three phases of work and published "Interim Report on Cultural Phase" in March 2008. The findings of the commission's cultural report are reflected in its final report and recommendations.
Although I welcome the BBC Trust's decision not to press ahead with local video news websites, which could well have disadvantaged local newspapers, will the minister give us any assurances about the Government's intentions vis-à-vis switching its situations vacant advertising and public notices on planning and licensing to websites, rather than using the local and national press, which it uses at present?
The Government has not issued any guidance promoting or recommending that local authorities advertise or broadcast services online. The current UK code of recommended practice states that the primary criterion for decisions on using publicity should be cost effectiveness.
Europe and External Affairs (Priorities)
To ask the Scottish Executive what its priorities are in respect of Europe and external affairs. (S3O-4971)
The Scottish Government's priority is always Scotland and what is in Scotland's best interests.
The minister will be aware of the massive potential benefits that Scotland can gain from closer links with China: indeed, exports to China have increased substantially in recent years. That is illustrated by the fact that in 2002 China was Scotland's 30th most significant export destination and had become by 2006 the 14th largest, purchasing goods and services to the value of some £400 million.
When I met Ian McCartney MP to discuss the matter, it was made plain—it has been reinforced since—that the United Kingdom has responsibility for representing Scotland at the Shanghai expo, as it does for Wales, the North of Ireland and England, as part of the strategy.
So somebody else is standing for Scotland.
I do not understand why Labour members think the UK Government should not represent Scotland on trade issues: it has responsibilities in that respect. In my discussion with Mr McCartney, I said that if the UK Government could come up with anything specific that could bring added value to Scotland—which is what the Scottish Government stands for—we would consider it.
Can the minister state whether one of the Government's more immediate priorities is communicating its congratulations to the people of Greenland on successfully voting in a referendum to extend their autonomy from Denmark? Does the minister agree that that decision by a population of 50,000 people can serve as an example to our population of 5 million people, and that there is no reason why we cannot move forward constitutionally with confidence at this time?
I absolutely agree with Mr Hepburn that it is the right of the people to state their case for peaceful and democratic transfer of powers.
Scotland and Malawi (Community Partnerships)
To ask the Scottish Executive what support it can offer to groups trying to strengthen partnerships between communities in Scotland and Malawi by bringing small groups of Malawians to Scotland, or vice versa. (S3O-5037)
The Scottish Government's international development policy enables Scottish organisations to apply for funding for projects in Malawi that meet agreed priorities, that are sustainable and that help the Government of Malawi to meet its millennium development goals. To support that activity, the Scottish Government provides core funding to the Scotland Malawi Partnership to encourage networking and to facilitate partnerships between communities in Scotland and in Malawi.
The minister will be aware of the strong links between my constituency and Malawi that have over recent years been developed between schools—for example, my alma mater, Sanday junior high school, and Minga school—churches and other community groups. Does she recognise the enormous benefit at grass-roots level that is derived by all those who are involved in such exchanges? If so, does she accept that Government policy—to which she has referred—particularly in relation to what projects can be supported, has little to offer many of the initiatives that people are trying to develop in Orkney? How would she respond to the concern that has been expressed by several of my constituents that the approach that is taken at present is too top-down?
It is important for everyone who is involved in international development to recognise that what Government does is only one small part of the massive contribution that is made right across civic Scotland to international development. Whether it involves schools, churches, community groups or individuals, that has been going on for decades, if not for centuries.
I am sure that the minister will appreciate that Scotland's third sector has an important role to play in strengthening the partnerships between communities in Scotland and Malawi. In the light of the thematic approach that the minister is taking with the policy on international development in Malawi, can she outline the areas in which she believes Scotland's third sector could play an important part in delivery of that policy in Malawi?
I could talk about that for a long time, but I will talk about only one example. I am delighted that, following long discussions with the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations—a marvellous organisation that is the umbrella group for many in the third sector—we have provided it with funding to enable it to work in partnership with an equivalent organisation called the Council for Non-Governmental Organisations in Malawi, which is trying hard to build capacity so that the links in Malawian civic society can be strengthened. That is a great relationship. I believe that strengthening civic society underpins every other policy strand that we are involved with in Malawi.
Culture (Priorities)
To ask the Scottish Executive what its priorities are for culture. (S3O-4976)
The Scottish Government has a single purpose: to create a more successful Scotland that can flourish through increasing sustainable economic growth. A key part of achieving that purpose will be a vibrant, strategic and forward-thinking development organisation for the arts and culture that is fit for the 21st century. That is why creative Scotland remains a priority for us.
I note the importance that the minister has attached to creative Scotland. However, given that the public services reform bill is unlikely to take effect until the end of 2009, that the minister is on record as saying that legislation is not required to establish creative Scotland, and that the Parliament has already given its approval for the establishment of the organisation—subject, of course, to adequate financial arrangements being in place—why does the Government not just get on with the job, establish creative Scotland and end the uncertainty that is faced by arts organisations across the country?
Because the Government shares the desire of the arts and culture community to avoid further delay after the unanimous agreement in this chamber—which was then voted down on the financial memorandum through the incompetence of the Opposition—we are setting up the new organisation, limited by guarantee, which will take everything forward. That will enable us to combine speed in establishing the new organisation—
The Government does not need to wait for a bill.
Just do it.
Order.
If I am hearing that the Opposition does not want such things to be underpinned by legislation, that it does not want a proper public appointments process to be undertaken, that we should just ignore the will of Parliament—which quite clearly wanted to establish creative Scotland as a statutory body—and that, rather than enshrine the organisation in legislation, we should just take a hands-off approach, I am very surprised.
Among the Government's priorities in arts and culture, has the minister had any time to give some thought, in a national context, to the future of the Glasgow police museum which, as she will probably know, is threatened with closure as a result of organisational changes?
I am happy to consider any application for funding assistance for any museum. The Glasgow police museum's business case will, of course, be considered along with the many other applications that we receive. I would encourage the museum to talk in the first instance to Museums Galleries Scotland, which does a good job in respect of independent museums and local authority museums.
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