SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE
General Questions
Voluntary Sector (Partnership Working)
To ask the Scottish Executive how it is encouraging partnership working with the voluntary sector to deliver key services to vulnerable people. (S3O-2397)
The Scottish Government recognises the valuable role that social enterprises and voluntary organisations play in the delivery of public services and their potential to contribute to the attainment of best value. The Scottish Government has considered in particular the potential for added value through public-social partnerships, given that social enterprises and voluntary organisations have a proven ability to innovate and vast experience in working with particular client groups, including vulnerable people. By bringing the public, private and social enterprise sectors together as equal partners, we can ensure that the people of Scotland benefit.
How can effective partnership working or added value be achieved in Aberdeen when council funding for voluntary sector groups is being slashed as part of £27 million of budget cuts? What action will the Scottish Government take to alleviate the effect of Aberdeen City Council's decision—highlighted in today's Evening Express—to threaten with closure the Glencraft factory, which has for decades enabled people with disabilities to have meaningful jobs?
Another day, another bout of scaremongering by a Labour member. I remind the member that the Government has given local authorities record funding for the next three years. In addition, the Government has relaxed ring fencing to allow local authorities to meet their communities' needs flexibly. I stress again for the member's benefit the Government's commitment to the voluntary sector. Every day of my working life I have the privilege of seeing examples of how the voluntary sector and social enterprises add value to the work of the national health service and other parts of the statutory sector. The Government is keen to support that. In the next three years, we will invest £93 million in the third sector. The people of Scotland will look on that commitment very favourably.
The Realise Community Project in Maryhill, which is a voluntary sector organisation in my region, provides education and employability support for adults who are recovering drug and alcohol addicts. As a small local voluntary sector organisation, it is finding it difficult to work in partnership with the Glasgow community planning partnership and Glasgow works because of their criteria for funding and how they tender for providers of key employability services.
A question, please.
Will the minister meet me to discuss the plight of the Realise Community Project, which might soon have to close because of those issues, and to discuss what advice and support the Scottish Government can give it?
I am more than happy to discuss that with the member and to look into any projects that members raise with me, wherever they might be. I will make one or two points that relate to the generality of the question. The member will know that the fairer Scotland fund—£435 million of investment—will benefit people throughout Scotland. Glasgow will receive more than a third of that fund. It is for community planning partnerships to decide how best to invest that money, because they know better than anyone else their communities' needs. I know that there are discussions in Glasgow and elsewhere about how that money can be best spent to cater for the needs of Glasgow and other areas. As always, I am more than happy to look into specific examples that are cited to me and to follow up the issue with the member.
Vulnerable people in the Highlands have received support from Highland Community Care Forum and Age Concern Highland—voluntary organisations that Highland Council previously funded. Unfortunately, when the Scottish National Party took over that council, that funding was withdrawn. Rather than accuse me of scaremongering, what will the minister do to provide that service to vulnerable people in the Highlands and protect those organisations?
I would never accuse the member of scaremongering. She asked a question reasonably and constructively and, as I said to Bob Doris, I am happy to look into the circumstances that members raise.
Blind and Partially Sighted People
To ask the Scottish Executive what provision it is making in the 2008-09 budget to support blind and partially sighted people. (S3O-2415)
The Scottish Government is providing £2.6 million over two years to national health service boards to develop eye care services. More than 50 per cent of that money has been issued in the current financial year and the remainder will be issued in 2008-09.
The cabinet secretary will be aware that glaucoma can lead to eyesight deterioration if it is not treated early enough. I have written to her this week on concerns raised by a constituent of mine that the glaucoma clinic at Gartnavel hospital has not been operating since last September. Does the cabinet secretary share my concern about that? Will she agree to look into the issue as a matter of urgency?
James Kelly's question is on an important matter that I agree to look into. As he has already written to me, a full response will be issued in due course.
Sure Start
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it remains committed to the sure start programme to bring together early education, child care, health and family support for disadvantaged families. (S3O-2399)
The Scottish Government is committed to supporting vulnerable and disadvantaged families. That is clearly highlighted in the national outcomes in the concordat agreement with local authorities, which, in tandem with recent guidance on single outcome agreements, makes it clear that we expect local authorities and community planning partners to work together to improve outcomes for such families.
Is the minister aware that, months ago, even before the recent council budget decisions in Edinburgh, sure start projects were identified for cuts of nearly £1 million? That is not scaremongering—the figures are the council's. Will she acknowledge the importance of sure start to the poorest children in our society and investigate how the outcomes she mentioned will be met? It was put to me that for every parent who benefits from sure start, an average of two children, as well as other members of the family, benefit. The cuts are described as devastating by local project leaders. Her aspirations will clearly not be met, so will she investigate what is happening on the ground?
I can certainly meet the member to see what is happening on the ground. I assure her that all the £59.9 million that was flagged as SS money remains available to local authorities to support vulnerable and disadvantaged families. As has been the case since the inception of the programme in 1999, local authorities have the discretion to deploy those resources in a way that they think best meets identified local need. Local authorities have always had control over the distribution of resources under sure start. Nothing has changed in that regard. We believe that local authorities are best placed to identify local need.
I had the pleasure of meeting Penicuik stepping forward and sure start Midlothian staff and parents in the Parliament last night. They explained to me the real benefit that individuals receive and called for greater sustainability in their funding, as well as potential flexibility in the provision of the service. The service is not just for parents of early years children. When the minister is taking forward the development of sure start, as has been called for by other members, will she bear those aspects in mind, as well as the serious concerns about the sustainability of funding?
The member has identified an important point. That is precisely why ring fencing is being taken away—to achieve flexibility so that local authorities, working with all their partners and agencies, can develop the best way forward to support vulnerable families.
National Concessionary Travel Scheme
To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate it has made of the uptake by passengers of the national concessionary travel scheme in 2008-09 and what the difference is between the capped figure in the 2008-09 budget for reimbursement for concessionary travel and the projected claims for reimbursement if the current estimate for uptake is accurate. (S3O-2427)
Transport Scotland is in discussions with the bus industry body, the Confederation of Passenger Transport, over an agreed cost escalator for 2008-09 that would set the payments limit to bus operators. Therefore, issues relating to the usage and possible cost of the scheme in 2008-09 are commercially sensitive at this stage.
We could translate that as, "I don't know." It is interesting that the minister does not know, because the budget has been set. With the budget set, that rather restricts what he can now do. Over the past 10 years, there has been substantial bus patronage growth and stability in fares, but he has failed to increase the bus service operators grant in line with what happens south of the border. The price of the council tax freeze is a sharp, above-inflation rise in bus fares. Does he recognise that if fares go up, the cost to the Treasury of concessionary fares will go up and we will end up in a financial mess?
The member may care to note that the structure, eligibility and funding process for the scheme has remained entirely unchanged. When and if he chooses to criticise the scheme, he criticises the previous Administration.
Like me, the minister is a member of the national concessionary travel scheme, so he will realise that many pensioners do not want just to curl up at night with a cup of cocoa. Does he have any plans to extend the scheme to include travel on night buses?
I acknowledge my interest in the scheme. I have already used the eligibility card more than 60 times on ministerial business. We will review the scheme for 2008-09, and we will of course take account of the experience of the scheme and its success to date.
Alcohol Support Services (Designated Place)
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the designated place at Albyn house in Aberdeen provides a good model of how to deal with people who are drunk and incapable that can be copied by other alcohol support services to avoid inappropriate admission to hospital and detention in police cells. (S3O-2422)
Albyn house provides one model of service for dealing with people who are drunk and incapable. We will continue to work with partner agencies to identify the most suitable and effective alternatives to inappropriate admissions and detention.
I am sure that the health secretary agrees with Kenny MacAskill, who praised the work of Albyn house when he visited it at the end of last year. Is she aware that Albyn house delivers big savings to health and social work budgets? It is funded by NHS Grampian and Aberdeen City Council and it is in the middle of reviews that they have commissioned. Does she share my surprise that Aberdeen City Council has chosen to cut its funding while it is in the middle of that review? Will she join me in calling on the city council to continue its funding of the designated place, in partnership with the national health service, at least until the reports that have been commissioned are made available?
I am sure that Albyn house provides a service in the area it serves. It is not for me to tell individual local authorities how to spend their budget. That may have happened in the old days, under the old regime, but we have a much more grown up and mature relationship with local authorities now, which most Labour councillors seem to warmly welcome.
Domestic Energy Consumption
To ask the Scottish Government what action is being taken to reduce energy consumption in the domestic housing sector. (S3O-2391)
The Scottish Government is taking a wide range of action to encourage reduced energy consumption in Scotland's homes, including improving energy efficiency through our fuel poverty programmes, support for microgeneration and delivery of energy efficiency advice. We are also considering the cost implications of "A Low Carbon Building Standards Strategy For Scotland", otherwise known as the Sullivan report. From December 2008, all house purchasers will receive as part of the home report a comprehensive report on the energy efficiency of a property before they bid.
Does the minister agree that the introduction throughout Scotland of smart meters, which provide accurate information and monitoring of electricity and gas usage, would be instrumental in meeting the Scottish Government's carbon reduction targets? Is he aware that the United Kingdom Government has refused to include a mandate for the introduction of such meters in the Energy Bill, which is currently going through Westminster? Will he make representations to UK ministers to ensure the greater use of smart meters in Scotland?
Back in November, I wrote to two Westminster ministers on the wider issue of fuel poverty. The introduction of smart meters obviously forms a part of that agenda, but I have yet to receive a response from either minister. As soon as I do, I will be happy to inform the member of the outcome. I am certainly disappointed that the UK Government has not included in its Energy Bill any requirement for companies to have an adequate support programme for their most vulnerable customers, as outlined in the energy white paper.
Does the minister agree not only that small-scale renewable energy technologies can play an important role in reducing domestic energy consumption but that the 15 per cent renewables target for new developments set out in Scottish planning policy 6, which was issued before the election, can be important in expanding their use? If so, why have the majority of local authorities not translated the target into their local plans, and why have they not received any support or pressure from the Scottish Government to do so? Moreover, why is the Scottish Government dragging its heels on introducing permitted development rights for microrenewables in existing buildings, despite independent advice received more than a year ago that supported the policy?
If the member can wait, he will soon find out the answers to his questions. We are currently considering many of those issues, and an announcement will be made very shortly.
Biodiesel Plant (Grangemouth)
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide an update on its involvement with proposals for a biodiesel plant at Grangemouth. (S3O-2433)
In March 2007, an offer of £9 million of regional selective assistance was accepted to support a £68 million investment by the INEOS Group in biodiesel manufacturing at its Grangemouth site. Officials are continuing to work with the company to progress this project, which is expected to create 22 new jobs and safeguard a further 410.
Does the minister share my disappointment at the news that the proposed biodiesel plant at Grangemouth is not going to happen? Has the Scottish Government given any money to INEOS? If so, how much?
I confirm that no money has been paid and that the Government will continue to explore every possible option to maintain and maximise Scotland's energy mix and energy security.
Previous
Protecting Scotland's Children