SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE
Schools (Closures)
To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has given to local authorities on the closure of secondary schools. (S1O-4726)
None.
I thank the minister for that somewhat short reply. Is he aware of Renfrewshire Council's plan to close St Brendan's High School in Linwood and St Cuthbert's High School in Johnstone and of the fact that 95 per cent of the members of the school boards have rejected the idea of the closure of the schools? Does he not agree that it would be appropriate for him to issue guidance on the closure of schools instead of taking the rather offhand attitude that he has taken so far in replying to the question?
The member asked what guidance there is and I gave an accurate answer, but perhaps I could explain more fully what the statutory procedures are.
Thank you.
Road Safety (Perth and Kinross)
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will carry out a safety audit on junctions on the A9 trunk road in Perth and Kinross. (S1O-4733)
The Executive reviews annually injuries and accidents on all trunk roads, including the A9. In addition, a detailed accident analysis has been carried out on the A9 and its recommendations will be considered.
The minister will be aware of my previous interest in the Ballinluig junction on the A9. I have in my hand a copy of the closed-circuit television surveillance report from BEAR Scotland, which was published today. It recommends that consideration be given to re-siting the camera to provide an improved view of through traffic and vehicle manoeuvres, which seems to vindicate local people's opinion that the CCTV camera was sited in the wrong place. Given that there seems to be an admission of inadequacy in the report and that the view of local representatives is that we need a grade-separated junction, will the minister now instruct a further report that is based on a re-sited camera?
We will use the evidence from the camera. We will also use the evidence from other studies that we have carried out at the junction. I am sure that Murdo Fraser is aware that we have announced our intention to hold an exhibition at Ballinluig in April this year to bring to the community's attention the favoured options and to elicit its comments on those.
As the question is geographically specific, I will call Keith Raffan.
Does the minister agree that although the Ballinluig junction is one of the worst examples on the A9, many other parts of the road are extremely dangerous? Does he also agree that one way in which we can improve safety on the A9 is by increasing the dualling of that road? Will the minister tell us when he expects the Executive to be able to propose plans for dualling other stretches of the A9?
Keith Raffan knows well the state of the roads programme on the A9. As for other trunk roads, we do not anticipate further major projects emerging now, as was explained in the chamber recently in reference to the strategic roads programme.
Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (Meetings)
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will next meet the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and what issues will be discussed. (S1O-4735)
Scottish Executive representatives meet COSLA on a regular basis to discuss matters of mutual interest.
At his next meeting, will the minister take the opportunity to question why, in view of the "substantial increase"—in the minister's own words—in funding to local government, most councils have increased council tax well above the rate of inflation while cutting services? Is this the Executive's new stealth tax?
As Mr Harding rightly pointed out, the Executive has been extremely generous in its grant settlement this year, as it has in the past two years, giving more than 10 per cent more additional resources. Most councils have brought in council taxes exactly on the targets that they predicted last year. In many cases, councils have brought in council taxes below that target. That is because of the generous grant that the Scottish Executive gives.
Instead of listening to the prophets of doom and gloom, will the Executive ask COSLA to encourage all Scottish local authorities to support the joint bid for Euro 2008, which would be of immense benefit to the whole of Scotland and to Scottish sport, tourism and the economy?
That matter would not normally be on the agenda for meetings with COSLA, but I am more than happy to raise it at my next meeting. I am sure that, as always, COSLA will act in the interests of Scotland.
Homelessness
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to implement the recommendations in the homelessness task force report. (S1O-4755)
Yes. As I made clear in launching the report yesterday, the Executive fully endorses the recommendations contained in the task force's report. I also announced that the Executive has allocated an extra £11 million over the next two financial years to support the task force's recommendations, which are a blueprint for preventing and alleviating homelessness. I was further pleased to announce that the Cabinet has agreed a legislative slot later this year to deliver the task force's recommendations in statute.
I am sure that the minister will join me in congratulating the housing and homelessness organisations and the individuals who have contributed successfully to the work of the task force.
Angus MacKay is right. That is not surprising, given his professional background as a campaigner for a homelessness charity. The involvement of such a wide range of experts in the task force gives it its strength.
To what extent does the minister believe that the withdrawal of housing benefit to 16 and 17-year-olds by the Tories in the 1980s impacted on homelessness among young people? What representations—if any—has the Scottish Executive made to Her Majesty's Government over the past three years to seek the restoration of those benefits?
If Kenny Gibson reads the report, he will find that it makes recommendations on issues that it believes to be major contributors to homelessness. If it does not comment on the issue that he raises, that is perhaps because the experts feel that it is not the issue that has the greatest impact on homelessness. What he will find in the report are recommendations about areas of the benefits system in which the task force believed changes could and should be made.
Question 5 is from Margo MacDonald.
Thank you, Presiding Officer. It is nice to see you.
That will not get you an extra question.
I did not mean it then.
New Edinburgh Royal Infirmary
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will meet any costs incurred by Lothian University Hospitals NHS Trust's reappraisal of the managed equipment services public-private partnership for the new Edinburgh royal infirmary. (S1O-4729)
No. The trust is resourced for management costs and the appraisal of procurement options is a normal activity that falls within those costs.
I thank the minister for that reply, but I inform him that the reappraisal was brought about because of the Executive's decision to reconfigure the hospital trusts. The expenditure anticipated by the original trust, which negotiated the new equipment, has been thrown out of kilter because of the Executive's decision. I think that the Executive has a moral duty and I hope that the minister agrees.
No. The hospital trust and Siemens were unable to reach an agreement that would provide the trust with the best value for money. The decision to pursue a review requires the approval of the trust's management board. That was given when the board met on 8 February. It is a local decision, which was taken in the best interests of the health service. I think that the Executive has acted properly at all stages.
Council Tax
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the increases in council tax bills next year are fairly distributed across local authorities. (S1O-4764)
Decisions about council tax levels are a matter for each council.
I would have liked to thank the minister for his answer, but as it was not much of an answer, I will not bother.
Tommy Sheridan knows very well that I will not support him in that move, as I set out in a recent debate. The council tax is a progressive tax. The value-of-property aspect is one indication of that. Secondly, when the benefit system is applied to the tax system there is a progressive element. Much council tax benefit is targeted at exactly the kind of communities that Tommy Sheridan mentioned.
Does the minister recall that at the previous question time, the First Minister reported that Scottish Borders Council had the second-lowest council tax in Scotland? Does the allocation of the block grant take account of the fact that wage levels in the Borders are among the lowest in Scotland and that on a wage:council tax ratio, the level of council tax charge in the Borders is equivalent to that in Edinburgh?
The correct figure is that Scottish Borders Council has the lowest mainland council tax levels in Scotland for this year.
Does the minister agree that when services are under threat, councils must consider all sources of funds, including raising council tax if necessary and deploying existing reserves to protect services that affect people's lives?
Such matters are essentially for Scottish Borders Council; it would be wrong for the Executive to be involved in the detailed management of them. Councils must decide whether to use the reserves at their disposal to protect services.
Given that Scottish Borders Council has increased council tax bills substantially to prevent cuts over and above the £5.9 million that is already on the books, will the minister reciprocate and encourage Councillor Tulley, who is the leader of the council, to apply for special borrowing?
No, I will not. Such matters are for the local council to resolve with its population. Even if there were an application for a loan of the sort that Christine Grahame mentioned, we would have to think carefully about giving such a loan to a council that has the eighth-highest level of grant, but the lowest level of council tax on the mainland. Other councils in Scotland have higher council tax levels and provide the same level of services. Scottish Borders Council also has balances at its disposal. In the circumstances, why should the Executive give special privileges to a council that has not managed its affairs as well as others?
National Health Service <br />(Information Technology)
To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to ensure that the national health service makes full use of information technology systems. (S1O-4761)
Plans and targets are set out in our information management and technology strategy. The £2 million boost announced this week will build on the substantial investment that is already committed and will enhance the basic infrastructure of personal computers and networks that NHS trusts and general practitioners need to underpin the strategy.
Does the minister agree that patients' greatest anxieties about the NHS are about waiting, not only for surgery but for appointments, test results and treatment? Many patients will welcome this week's announcement, because it is about reducing bureaucracy and speeding up access to appointments and test results. Will the minister consider the plea that GPs should be the first to benefit, so that they can make hospital appointments for patients in surgeries? Such use of technology would ensure that the investment gives a more radical improvement for patients.
Pauline McNeill is right that IT will improve the delivery of patient care in many ways and will free up staff time by reducing bureaucracy. I saw some of the advantages on Monday, when I visited the Belford hospital in Fort William and local GPs. I saw GPs and their patients who benefit from the big advances in IT that have been spearheaded in the Highlands and elsewhere.
Will the minister confirm that most of the IT money to which he referred was for a rescue package for the instant appointments system? Will he confirm that, according to Labour's programme for government, the new appointments system was supposed to be in place by 2002? Will he acknowledge that the new system is likely to be at least one year late and will be significantly over budget?
The money was by no means for a rescue package. Highland NHS Board was in the first tranche of health boards that were involved in the system. All the other boards have come on stream and the system has now started everywhere in Scotland. Highland NHS Board and four other health boards are in the vanguard. Shona Robison should welcome the many advantages for patient care in the measures that I have mentioned. When I had a recent meeting with nurses, they praised the initiative, because it means less time spent on bureaucracy and more time spent on direct front-line patient care.
Given that the Highlands is one of the lead sites for electronic clinical communications implementation—otherwise known as ECCI—is the minister concerned that only 30 per cent of GP practices are linked to the system for the electronic booking of appointments and transmission of patient test results? Is he concerned that immediate discharge letters are e-mailed to GP practices from only 18 wards in Raigmore hospital and two in Belford hospital?
We attach a great deal of importance to that, which is why we have invested in ECCI and in Scottish care information, known as SCI—everything is an acronym in the world of IT. We were keen to give the strategy a boost, which is why we announced an extra £2 million this week to accelerate the development of the system. Mary Scanlon should praise the fact that the system is being pioneered in the Highlands. It should not be too long before it is rolled out across the Highland area and the rest of Scotland.
Does the minister accept that IT developments help to reduce the professional isolation of GPs and community nurses in isolated rural and island areas? Does he further accept that that benefit could be enhanced appreciably if the Government tackled the cost of data communication networks? What work is the Executive undertaking to tackle that crucial issue?
There are many advantages in such networks, some of which I have highlighted. One advantage is the access to information that they provide. When I visited Fort William, the point was made that patient records are available as well as all the advice, for example about referral protocols—which are another issue when it comes to out-patient appointments. Every question this afternoon has highlighted a different aspect of this most important initiative.
Higher Education (Science Courses)
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it will take to reverse the decline in degree acceptances of 11 per cent for chemistry courses and 19 per cent for physics courses from Scottish-domiciled students as detailed in the recent Universities and Colleges Admissions Service for the UK report. (S1O-4751)
One of the five key objectives identified in the science strategy is to ensure that enough people study science. We are taking a range of actions, including participating in the science year, which starts in September, and giving local authorities additional resources to support the teaching of science.
I welcome the announcement earlier this week of additional cash for research. Does the minister agree that, unless we have a steady stream of well-qualified scientists, it will be difficult to maintain Scotland's growing reputation for high-quality science? What progress has careers Scotland made in developing good-quality information and advice as part of the science strategy for Scotland, and good-quality information and advice on education and career opportunities in science?
The member is right. We are hopeful that careers Scotland will encourage pupils to take up science subjects. I offer the member some encouraging news. There has been an increase of 17 per cent in applications to chemistry courses for the forthcoming year. Acceptances in other science courses show an increase of 14 per cent in computer science in the past year and an increase of 11 per cent in the biological sciences over the past two years.
Does the minister consider it important, in the allocation of resources to our higher education institutions, to try to match the existing deficiency of skills in the economic sector? Would she consider using funding to address the need to provide those courses at university level and improve co-ordination between universities and schools to answer the point that was rightly made by Mr Adam, that there is a lack of awareness among school pupils and a need for universities to be proactive in addressing that?
There is agreement throughout the Parliament that we must get better at informing our young people about the sorts of course choices that will give them opportunities in later life. We hope that careers Scotland will do that. As we distribute money for teaching in our higher education institutions, science courses should receive their share of the teaching resources as that increasing cake is distributed.
The minister will be aware that there is also a desperate shortage of engineering students being recruited from schools by universities and from universities by the engineering industries. Will the Executive take any steps to address that?
I will cite a couple of actions that we are taking. We are increasing the allocation of resources to local authorities for the teaching of science and we are pioneering "made in Scotland" roadshows.
What is the Executive doing to encourage young women to take up science as a career, to encourage girls to take science at school and to encourage those women who go to university to study science? Will the minister assure me that she will consider how science departments in universities treat women scientists and ensure that women feel comfortable in a career in science at that level?
It is appropriate in the week before international women's day to consider what more we can do on the equality agenda. It is the case that within Scottish higher education we have taken a number of initiatives in the past year to promote equal opportunities not simply in pay, but in career and promotion prospects for women working in that sector.
Employment (Transco)
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to Transco and the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets regarding the recent announcement of job losses by Transco, and how many of those jobs will be lost in Scotland. (S1O-4727)
My officials have been in touch with Transco, the energy regulator Ofgem and the Department of Trade and Industry, which has responsibility for policy in this reserved area. We have received assurances that no job losses will affect public safety.
In the light of that answer, will the minister assure us that he will urge the UK Government to ensure that all regulators, in making a decision about price, must take into account the effect that that will have on public safety, customer service and staff and that companies are not able to make savings purely by sacking people?
Mr Paterson will be aware that public safety, customer service and staff are among the considerations that must be taken into account. Of course we have been particularly keen to ensure that there is no question of the changes being made in Transco compromising or jeopardising public safety. We have had assurances that that is the case. We have also had assurances that the reduction in staff that the company makes will include only a small element of operational staff and no repair or pipeline replacement staff and will therefore not affect the services bearing most directly on safety.
Alcohol and Tobacco
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to curb the trade in bootleg alcohol and tobacco. (S1O-4752)
The lead responsibility for dealing with excise fraud lies with HM Customs and Excise, which in Scotland works closely with the police forces and the criminal justice agencies in tackling this serious problem.
I acknowledge that some aspects of the matter are reserved, but bootleg alcohol and tobacco is a serious issue. It has a marked effect on health, public disorder, underage drinking and the local economy by robbing legitimate outlets of the trade that they should have. We should perhaps persuade shopkeepers—
That is all very interesting, but we must have a question.
I was going to ask the minister what he is going to do about it.
What are you going to do about it, minister?
I agree with Donald Gorrie's analysis of the problem. The fact that such fraud robs substantial revenue means that there is less to be shared and less to the block grant that we would get.
Has the minister made any representations to the UK Treasury about its proposal to introduce strip stamps as a counter-bootlegging measure? From the look on his face, perhaps I should ask him whether he knows what strip stamps are. If he does not, will he find out and do something about the situation? According to the Scotch Whisky Association, the introduction of strip stamps in their present format will devastate the whisky industry in Scotland.
Actually, I know what stick stamps are about because I have made representations—[Members: "Strip stamps."] Most stamps stick. [Laughter.] I made an individual representation to the Treasury in support of my local MP and in support of the whisky industry in my constituency.
Postal Services
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will continue to use the Royal Mail service following the deregulation of postal services. (S1O-4724)
The Office of Government Commerce concluded a service level agreement with Consignia last year. The Scottish Executive will participate in the development of that relationship and has no plans to review its arrangements with Consignia.
What action will the Executive take to ensure that small businesses in rural Scotland, such as those located in my constituency, are given support in order to ensure that they are not adversely affected by the deregulation of postal services?
From the rural development perspective, there are two points in which we would be most interested when we have discussions with the Department of Trade and Industry. The first is the maintenance of Consignia's universal service obligation to provide at least one collection every working day. The second is to ensure the roll-out of the DTI pilot that I spoke of on the previous occasion on which this matter was discussed in the chamber. The project, which is known as "Your Guide", would give business consumers access to a one-stop-shop approach to a range of services, covering 80 per cent of commercial activity requirements.
Is the minister aware that, following deregulation in Sweden, the cost of a stamp rose by 72 per cent, the number of post offices fell by half, the Saturday service was scrapped and door-to-door delivery in rural areas ceased? Will he ensure that the DTI and Postcomm are told in no uncertain terms that privatisation is unacceptable and that we want to improve our post office, not to privatise it?
We will, of course, follow a UK model, not a Swedish model—I assure members that I will not pursue any Swedish models. The member did not refer to the fact that, post liberalisation of the service, the Swedish postal service retained 94 per cent of the letter market, which is an important point. It does not follow that the doom and gloom to which the member referred is a direct product of liberalisation of the markets.
What discussions has the minister had with Consignia to assist communities to take over threatened sub-post offices and village stores?
Our officials are in contact with their counterparts in the south about the effect that the prospective liberalisation of the market will have on rural services. The UK Government is committed to maintaining the existing size of the rural post office network until 2006, except where closures are unavoidable.
Primary School Teaching
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to promote greater male participation in primary school teaching. (S1O-4734)
The Scottish Executive's teacher recruitment campaign is designed to appeal to all sections of the community. To highlight the importance of encouraging more men in primary teaching, the 2001 teacher recruitment advertising campaign deliberately featured a male teacher working in a primary school.
I thank the minister for that initiative.
We are very conscious of the issue, the scale of which is clear. The school census in the year 2000 indicated that around 7 per cent of primary teachers were male. The NFO System Three Social Research survey that followed up on the recruitment advertising campaign showed a small decrease, among those who had seen the advert, in the number of people who viewed primary teaching as "mainly for women".
Does the minister agree that primary school teachers—the vast majority of whom are women—are doing very important work? In spite of the problems that society faces, it is the fact that women are prepared to tackle the problems that gives us hope for the future.
I am happy to agree with and endorse those comments. All the evidence suggests that our primary schools are doing a very good job and that that job is improving—attainment is increasing across the board. We must not be complacent. My personal view is that we need a mix of male and female teachers, as well as a mix of younger and older, more mature teachers. That is important for Scottish society.
Dental Services (Rural Areas)
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to ensure that there is adequate dental cover in rural areas. (S1O-4718)
I am aware of difficulties in the provision of NHS dental treatment in some parts of Scotland, including Argyll and Bute, which are due principally to staffing shortages. Work is under way nationally to improve the supply of dentists and, in conjunction with the profession, we are considering a number of proposals. To recognise the position of dentists in remote areas, we will introduce from 1 April 2002 remote areas allowance and will also increase continuing professional development allowances. Both initiatives are aimed at attracting dentists to remote areas.
I take it that the minister is aware of the acute shortage of dental cover to serve the Cowal and Bute area, which is the result of the retiral of the single-handed dental practitioner. Lomond and Argyll Primary Care NHS Trust put forward a bid for a salaried dentist to cover both communities in January of this year. Will the minister look favourably on that bid for funding for the new position? I hope that he will come to a speedy decision to plug the serious gap in dental service provision in my constituency.
My understanding is that there are 6.15 salaried dentists in Argyll and Bute. It has been the habit of the Executive to look favourably at any applications for salaried dentist positions that have been made by health boards or trusts.
Is the minister aware that a shortage of dentists is not the only problem for rural communities in Grampian? People who live in those communities must wait for up to four years to see a dental surgeon at the local hospital. Will the minister tell the chamber what she is doing to reduce waiting times for such treatment at the local hospital?
As I said, we are considering a number of proposals to encourage provision in the area. The two proposals that I mentioned will make an impression on the waiting lists that the member refers to. We are also looking at encouraging dentists to return to practice, encouraging older dentists to stay on longer and increasing provision for the support of dentists by assistants. Each of those initiatives will improve waiting times.
The minister and other members may be interested to know that an attempt by Dumfries and Galloway to recruit dentists from Sweden—models or otherwise—failed. Given the fact that Dumfries and Galloway has only half the number of dentists that is required, will the minister give an assurance that she will consider authorising the public funding of dentists so that they are employed directly by the local health trusts.
I repeat that the Executive will look favourably on any health boards or health trusts that apply for salaried dentists within their area. That is one of the ways in which we will tackle the shortages.
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