Antisocial Behaviour (Quad Bikes)
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to deal with antisocial behaviour on quad bikes. (S4O-03751)
Section 126 of the Antisocial Behaviour etc (Scotland) Act 2004 provides powers for the police to seize vehicles being used in a manner that causes alarm, distress or annoyance. The Scottish Government supports the work of Police Scotland in dealing with vehicles that are being used antisocially. Local community policing teams are ideally placed to engage with members of the community to identify areas of concern that can be prioritised for proactive patrols to prevent repeat instances of such behaviour and to deal with any offences.
Antisocial behaviour happens on farmland and grass land and is increasingly a nuisance and threat on pavements and urban streets. I recognise that the minister is new to his post and I wish him well in his new role. Can he say whether the Government is open to the option of strengthening fixed-penalty notices to deal with the problem and to give the police more tools in their box?
I would be happy to discuss those issues with Claire Baker, especially if she has any ideas to propose that would tackle the issue. It is worth stressing that we have specific offences that can cover off-road activities as well as those on the road, depending on which section of the Road Traffic Act 1988 applies. The police can proactively patrol areas to clamp down on antisocial behaviour. I am willing to listen to any positive ideas from members and am happy to meet Claire Baker on that basis.
Rural Crime
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making on tackling rural crime. (S4O-03752)
Tackling crime, including rural crime, is an operational matter for Police Scotland. Local policing remains the bedrock of Police Scotland’s activities and has been strengthened under a single service. All 14 divisions have a designated local commander to work with communities, councils and other partners to shape and deliver local policing.
The Scottish Government funds Neighbourhood Watch Scotland and its well-respected alert system, which allows individuals, businesses, Police Scotland and other agencies to share general safety messages and alerts. Farm watch and rural watch areas across Scotland enable specific alerts about thefts, appeals for information and work being carried out on and around farms to be shared quickly and easily.
I congratulate Michael Matheson on his elevation to the Cabinet.
Despite the figures that have been given, rural crime cost Scotland almost £2 million in 2013. Ayrshire seemed to be a particular hotspot and the cost to its local economy was almost £0.5 million in that same year. Last weekend, goods worth £6,000 were stolen from a farm near Hawick. Oil, tools, quad bikes, machinery and garden equipment seem to be the top items that are targeted.
Greater geographical distances and a lower concentration of police resources in rural areas make tackling crime more difficult. On top of the steps that the cabinet secretary has detailed, what more might the Government do to ensure that the barriers of rurality are overcome?
I appreciate that some aspects of policing in rural areas create additional challenges. The data that we received this week show that crime in Scotland is at a 40-year low, but in some areas increases in particular types of crime—the very types of crime to which the member refers—can be identified. In the discussions that I had yesterday with Vic Emery, the chair of the Scottish Police Authority, I was keen to explore how local policing strategies will reflect those data. I want to make sure that all 32 of our local authority policing plans and local scrutiny committees have a role to play in considering that data so that the plans reflect the rural dimension and the needs of that community.
While local policing plans are all well and good, concerns have been expressed that there are insufficient specialist wildlife crime officers in Scotland. Will the cabinet secretary raise those concerns in his conversations with the SPA and Police Scotland, particularly the chief constable?
Tackling wildlife crime is very important, and Police Scotland has a team of officers who specialise in that particular field. If Christine Grahame has any specific suggestions that she feels the Scottish Police Authority and Police Scotland should consider, I would be happy to consider them too.
It is important that we progress a range of measures that can help to reduce wildlife crime, on top of the measures that are already in place, to build on the work that has been done in recent years. I am happy to hear from Christine Grahame any suggestions that she thinks could assist in tackling wildlife crime much more effectively, and to consider how the Scottish Police Authority might take those forward.
Immigration (Economic Benefits)
To ask the Scottish Government what the economic benefits of immigration from the European Union are to Scotland. (S4O-03753)
The Scottish Government recognises the importance of migration for healthy population growth and sustainable economic growth. European Union migrants play a valuable role in our economic prosperity and will always be welcome in Scotland. A University College London report that was published earlier this month made the value of EU migrants clear. It found that, between 2001 and 2011, recent European migrants made a net contribution of £20 billion to the United Kingdom economy.
I thank the minister very much for that response. My understanding is that certain sectors in our economy are very dependent on folk from overseas, including those from European Union countries. Will he join me in deploring the anti-immigration hysteria that has been encouraged by some political parties?
John Mason makes a very valid point. Where concerns and tensions exist we have a duty to address them, but politicians must not be tempted to use inflammatory rhetoric in the pursuit of cheap political gain.
I felt disheartened and angry when I read the comments from the UK Secretary of State for Defence, Michael Fallon, about towns and cities being “swamped” and “under siege” from immigrants. We must condemn such distasteful language, which is, frankly, straight out of the British National Party’s handbook.
Immigrants contribute culturally, socially and even—thank god for it—through their cuisine, so EU migrants are very, very welcome in Scotland.
I fully recognise the many benefits that immigration, especially from eastern Europe, has brought to Scotland and to the tourism industry in particular, not least in my region of the Highlands and Islands. However, does the minister agree that it is paramount that we ensure that we have a fair immigration system that favours those who want to come here to work hard and contribute to Scottish society rather than those who wish only to reap benefits?
I do not see anybody advocating, and I have never come across a politician or political party that advocates, illegal immigration. We all want to clamp down on those who choose to abuse the system, and that is absolutely correct. However, we must understand that being part of the European Union means that, for every person who comes from eastern Europe to work in Scotland, there is a Scot who has a retirement villa on the Costa del Sol. It is a two-way process, which we enjoy.
I agree with Jamie McGrigor that there are vital sectors that need immigration, and the UK Government’s immigration rules are completely counterproductive in filling those skills gaps. That is why the Institute of Directors, the Scottish Trades Union Congress and Universities Scotland have requested a measure of devolution on immigration.
We will chew over what the Smith commission has said on the matter as one of the issues for consideration. I am sure that Jamie McGrigor, given the geography that he represents, will wish to make further representation on the matter too.
Non-domestic Rates
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has in respect of the non-domestic rates system. (S4O-03754)
This Government remains committed to maintaining the most competitive tax environment that is available anywhere in the United Kingdom.
I thank the cabinet secretary for that answer, and congratulate him on his new role as Deputy First Minister for Scotland.
Does the Scottish Government support the continuation of the below-inflation cap on increases for non-domestic rates?
First, I thank Gavin Brown for his kind remarks, which are greatly appreciated.
On our approach on business rates, the Government remains committed to two things: first, to uprating business rates in line with the September retail prices index figures, which represent the normal metrics by which that process is undertaken; and, secondly, to ensuring that business rates poundage in Scotland is equal to that south of the border. That will be the Government’s approach in any future decisions.
Integration of Health and Social Care
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making with the integration of health and social care. (S4O-03755)
The Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Scotland) Act 2014 came into effect in April 2014. A full public consultation on the regulations and orders that support the act has been conducted. The regulations and orders have now been laid with the Scottish Parliament and are due to come into effect in December. Partnerships are currently developing their integration schemes, which must be submitted to the Scottish Government by 1 April 2015.
We have seen a dramatic rise in delayed discharge in Aberdeen since the inception of the arm’s-length company Bon Accord Care. When the Scottish National Party was in power in Aberdeen, delayed discharge was at zero. Does the cabinet secretary foresee any problems with the integration of health and social care in areas where councils have passed the delivery of care to arm’s-length companies?
First, the member can be assured that addressing delayed discharge is absolutely my top priority going forward. It is obviously up to local partnerships to take a collective view on the provision of health and social care services in their area. I am sure that the member will be aware that one of the key problems in Aberdeen with regard to delayed discharge is the challenge of recruitment and retention of staff to deliver the care. Aberdeen is an area of low unemployment with a strong economy, so there are significant challenges in attracting employees to the care sector there.
The member might be aware of the discussions between NHS Grampian and Aberdeen City Council, which are working together to identify land assets that could be developed as low-cost, affordable housing to help with the on-going recruitment problem in the area. I am very keen that both organisations pursue that, and I have asked to be kept up to date on that regularly.
The integration of health and social care is vital for dealing with delayed discharge but, given the crisis in local government finance, where on earth are councils expected to find the match funding demanded in the First Minister’s statement yesterday?
Of course, local government has received a higher percentage share of funding than happened under the previous Labour Administration. What I can say to Neil Findlay is that the critical element is the integration of health and social care, because for too long the national health service and local government have budgeted and worked in two separate silos. In-between those silos in many cases are the vulnerable elderly people who are not getting the quality of service that they require. Integration of the two significant resources of health and local government is critical for addressing that.
I point out to Neil Findlay that the joint resource that health and social care will have from April next year will amount to £7.6 billion, which is a huge resource. However, what is important is how that resource is spent. I am absolutely clear that I expect both organisations to make the improvements that require to be made.
The cabinet secretary will be aware of the delayed discharge problems in NHS Ayrshire and Arran and of the shortage of available beds there at the moment, with the winter bugs not having kicked in yet. Does she share my concern about the situation in Ayrshire and will she raise the problem as a matter of urgency with NHS Ayrshire and Arran with a view to finding a solution?
All the health boards are under no illusion about the priority that we give to tackling delayed discharge, but of course the solution to that problem does not lie only within the health service. It is about the health service working with local government to address the problem. The partnerships have been working very hard to address some of the challenges from winter pressures, which we know are short-term but big challenges.
The plans that are beginning to be put in place for the partnerships from April are critical. We need to redesign many of the services. We need to avoid people turning up to hospital when they do not need to be there, and we need to have far better alternatives, particularly for vulnerable elderly people, for many of whom an acute hospital setting is not the right one.
I give the member an absolute assurance that this is my top priority going forward, and I would be very happy to keep him up to date on developments in his area.
Commonwealth Games Legacy
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its legacy plans from the Commonwealth games. (S4O-03756)
The Scottish Government and our legacy partners are working to capitalise on the opportunities that were brought about by our hosting the best Commonwealth games ever. In the days following the games, £6 million was announced towards Scotland’s first ever dedicated parasports centre, as well as a further £2 million to build on and deepen the legacy, which is already delivering benefits nationwide.
A further £50 million will be invested by sportscotland in the active schools programme between 2015 and 2019, significantly increasing opportunities for children to participate in sport across the whole of Scotland.
More recently, on Tuesday, the opening at Grangemouth stadium of a new track that uses the track from Hampden park means that young people can now train on the track that was used by Eilidh Child and Usain Bolt, which will inspire the next generation of champions.
A full economic assessment of the games will be published in the spring, but recent analysis points to £282 million being spent by visitors to the games. A post-games legacy evaluation report that assesses progress towards legacy outcomes will be published in July 2015.
I thank the minister for that comprehensive response and congratulate him on his well-deserved new position as a minister.
My Glasgow Cathcart constituency has a number of interesting legacy projects, including a plan to turn the disused St Martin’s church in Castlemilk into the Cathkin Braes mountain bike and activity centre. Will the minister come and visit the site of the proposed centre and meet those who are involved in the proposal? What assistance is the Government giving or intending to give to local and community projects to assist them with such legacy building in local communities?
Briefly, minister.
I thank Mr Dornan for his welcome.
Having delivered the most successful Commonwealth games ever, we are determined to secure its legacy, and communities across Scotland are interested in playing their part. I encourage communities across Scotland to visit the legacy website to find out more about the on-going sources of support such as the legacy 2014 active places fund and the legacy 2014 sustainable sport for communities fund.
I am delighted to learn of the efforts in Glasgow Cathcart. I wish those who are involved well, and of course I will be happy to visit with Mr Dornan.
Energy Storage Technologies
To ask the Scottish Government what its policy is on the development of energy storage technologies. (S4O-03757)
Energy storage can help us to make the most effective use of Scotland’s energy resources. Pumped hydro plays a vital role in meeting United Kingdom energy security, which is why our third national planning framework identified new and expanded pumped storage facilities as a national development, and why we are seeking to work with the UK Government and industry to consider how pumped storage can be supported in the future.
The Institution of Mechanical Engineers estimates that 3.4GW of energy storage will be needed in Scotland by 2020, but current storage capacity is only a little over 0.75GW and is largely pumped storage. A number of companies are developing technologies such as liquid air battery storage, and the former nuclear power station at Chapelcross is being suggested as a possible site for such developments. Does the Government agree that such projects should be encouraged, particularly as a way to make the most of Scotland’s renewable energy resources?
Yes, I do. I met the member and one of the individuals involved regarding the Chapelcross proposal, and since then Scottish Enterprise has had a follow-up meeting on 17 November.
On the general point, there is over 2GW of potential pump storage capacity at present, but what there is not is a route to make that happen under electricity market reform. The EMR proposals are entirely devoid of any mechanism to bring forward pump storage. That is entirely wrong, and it is why I support the proposal by Scottish Renewables that a Scottish and UK Government intergovernmental panel should be established. I put that proposal to the UK energy minister on 13 November and a reply is awaited.
That ends general questions. Before we move on to the next item of business, members will wish to join me in welcoming to the gallery His Excellency Mr Péter Szabadhegy, ambassador of Hungary. [Applause.]