SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE
Cancer Research Trials
To ask the Scottish Executive whether cancer patients have sufficient opportunities to participate in clinical trials for new drugs and therapies. (S1O-4972)
The Scottish Executive encourages clinicians to ensure that as many patients as possible are included in relevant trials. I announced last week that £1 million is being made available to provide more research nurses and other support for clinical trials.
I am delighted that my question prompted the minister's announcement of a new cancer research network and £1 million for clinical trials for cancer patients in Scotland.
I will set aside the fact that the timing of the announcement did not quite coincide with Mary Scanlon's interpretation of events. I am glad that she welcomes the extra money that we put into clinical trials last week. We intend to get that money out into the research network so that more patients can be recruited for trials.
I declare an interest, as I am the patron of the Scottish Breast Cancer Campaign. I want to ask the minister about a matter that is related to clinical trials and money, as I know that he met representatives of the campaign earlier this week. Does the minister agree that the work undertaken voluntarily by the campaign to produce its questionnaire 2000 could be used as a pilot study to discover the experiences of women in Scotland who are diagnosed with breast cancer, provided that such a study was funded by the Executive and undertaken by an independent body?
I agree with Margo MacDonald that we should pay tribute to the superb work that the Scottish Breast Cancer Campaign has done over the past eight years. The campaign's questionnaire was extremely useful for everyone who is involved in delivering cancer services. It is clear that a lot of work is being done on patient involvement in cancer services. Many of the campaign's suggestions fit in with the wider agenda of developing patient involvement and feedback in order to improve services. I was able to give a positive response to the points that the campaign's representatives raised, although I am still pursuing some of the detailed questions that they asked.
Question 2 has been withdrawn.
Air Traffic Control Centre (Prestwick)
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has identified any adverse implications for economic development following the freezing of the contract for the building of an en route air traffic control centre in Prestwick. (S1O-4988)
No. The Scottish Executive supports the UK Government's commitment to the new Scottish centre at Prestwick and I understand that both site preparations and the drawing up of contracts are proceeding in line with the revised timetable that was agreed by UK ministers.
Surely the minister recognises the importance of the development of the centre to South Ayrshire's economy—the development will have a major input into that economy. Surely he should represent Scottish economic interests and try to persuade his Cabinet colleagues to unblock that contract now. Does he recognise that, in addition to the short-term economic effect of the block on air service development, there is a longer-term economic effect? The block may also affect the safety of passengers in the long term.
Of course we are aware of the importance of the centre, the development of which we fully support. As I said, that work will go ahead in accordance with the revised timetable. Employment in the area will be boosted by the construction phase in particular, and it is clear that the sooner construction begins, the sooner that boost will happen. If construction is delayed, the boost will simply be deferred, but it will happen in any case.
Is the minister aware that any further delay in the project will result in a real danger that Scotland might lose the project to Ireland? Will he and the Executive do everything that they can to ensure that that does not happen?
As I said to Mr Gallie, we are committed to supporting a two-centre strategy that involves Prestwick. We are not aware of any threat to that strategy. We are not aware that National Air Traffic Services or the airline group has any intention of reconsidering its commitment to Prestwick. We will continue to talk to those parties about the timing of their project and the construction. We are confident that the project will go ahead and will provide a service that protects air safety and provides employment in Ayrshire.
Given the impact of the freezing of the building contract on the Ayrshire economy and the fact that 1,000 job losses have been announced in the Prestwick area in the past year, will the minister provide a date when either he or Wendy Alexander, the Minister for Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning, will come to Ayrshire to see for themselves the problems facing the Ayrshire economy?
We are well aware of the challenges that face the Ayrshire economy. For that reason, we have committed a further £2 million to Scottish Enterprise Ayrshire to take forward its Ayrshire strategy for jobs.
Disability Scotland
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in establishing an organisation to replace Disability Scotland. (S1O-4992)
The Scottish Executive has given a commitment to continue to support the voluntary sector in its efforts to determine what structures should be put in place for consulting with disabled people across Scotland. The Executive continues to work with groups of and for disabled people to achieve that.
The minister will be aware of my concern and that of my constituents about the matter. We want to ensure that people with disabilities have an effective lobbying voice and that during the interim period they will be consulted on issues such as effective building regulation. Is the minister aware of my constituents' concern that any replacement organisation should be open to able-bodied people who take an interest in disability issues, particularly carers and relatives?
We are anxious to ensure that disabled people have a voice and are able directly to reflect their concerns. We are also aware of the contribution that people without disabilities make to effective campaigning work. I hope that, at the same time as empowering disabled people to the fullest extent, the groups that have expressed an interest in coming forward to replace Disability Scotland will allow that wide area of expertise to influence their work.
Transport (Scotland) Act 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to monitor the implementation of the Transport (Scotland) Act 2001. (S1O-4950)
Good progress is being made in delivering the objectives of the Transport (Scotland) Act 2001. The Executive is working with appropriate partners on implementation in a number of areas.
Is the minister aware of the level of dissatisfaction about their bus service that is felt by many of my constituents in Pollok? They are dissatisfied with the limited services that are available, their unreliability and the frequent absence of services on key routes outwith peak hours. Is he further aware that many feel that the regulation that the act provides is simply inadequate to meet their demands for a proper bus service? Will he confirm his willingness to review the effectiveness of the quality partnership and quality contract processes and, if necessary, will he consider further legislation to address the serious problems that my constituents experience?
I am aware of the issues that Johann Lamont raises. She will know that the main bus provisions of the act came into force on 1 July last year and that we published guidance in October. The new provisions include regulations that require bus operators to notify the traffic commissioner of any changes to service, such as a new service, a variation to an existing service or the cancellation of a service. The traffic commissioner requires 56 days' notice and the local authority must have 14 days' prior notice. Those regulations help to secure stability in bus services.
Community Safety
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will support community safety projects in order to make progress on reducing crime and reducing the fear of crime. (S1O-4986)
On 31 October 2001, we announced details of a new community safety award programme, which will give all council-led community safety partnerships a share of £12 million over the next three years for local community safety initiatives. The programme will allow community safety partnerships to secure, for the first time, sustained mainstream funding to be used solely for the purposes of taking forward the community safety agenda.
I know that the extra funding for the many anti-crime initiatives that are being developed by Aberdeen community safety partnerships is making real improvements. For instance, there has been a significant reduction in house-breaking. Is the minister aware of the problems of youth disorder in certain areas of my constituency, such as Bridge of Don? What more can be done to develop diversionary projects, such as youth cafés and other initiatives, to ensure that young people do not get involved in drugs or in other anti-social behaviour?
The Executive is aware of the concerns of many MSPs and of their constituents about youth crime. We believe that community safety partnerships—which involve the local council, the local police, the fire brigade and many other groups, including the communities that are seriously affected by crime—have the opportunity to bring forward many different projects, of which there are excellent examples across the country. The Audit Commission has published a report on community safety partnerships and has put an audit system in place. It is possible to develop all sorts of new projects and many exciting projects are taking place. I encourage Elaine Thomson to work with the local community, as I know that she is doing, to develop that further.
Will the minister acknowledge that one way to reduce the fear of crime is to put in place a justice system that deters crime? Does he acknowledge that that would mean an increase in the numbers of procurators fiscal, who are already hopelessly overworked?
As Lord James will no doubt be aware, a report on the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service has been published. Indeed, one of the Parliament's committees has been examining the matter in detail. The Executive intends to take the matter forward with some expediency.
Given the fact that much of the crime in the north-east of Scotland to which Elaine Thomson referred is due to Grampian's drug misuse problem, will the minister investigate the level of rehabilitation after-care services in the north-east of Scotland? In recent years, there has been an enormous rise in drug misuse in the region. If we were to increase the level of such services, we could reduce crime.
The behaviour that arises from drug misuse is significant. One of our reports indicated that 40 per cent of families in council flats said that vandalism and people drinking or taking drugs were common problems in their neighbourhoods. Tackling such problems is part of the community neighbourhood strategy that we are trying to develop. It is important that we ensure that the rehabilitation services are not only available, but available at the right time.
European Capital of Culture
To ask the Scottish Executive how it is supporting the bid by Inverness and the Highlands to be European capital of culture in 2008. (S1O-4966)
Following discussion with Highland Council and Highlands and Islands Enterprise last October, ministers were pleased to confirm their intention to support the costs of preparing the bid to the extent of £100,000 for this financial year and the next.
I thank the Executive for supporting the bid that Inverness and the Highlands are making for this important accolade. What discussions has the minister had with her colleagues in Westminster about the bid? Will she emphasise to them how crucial a successful bid would be to the economy of Inverness—city of the Gaidhealtachd—and to the economy of Scotland as a whole? Will she take the opportunity to commit the Executive to funding the bid at the same level as bids that have been prepared by other parts of the United Kingdom? I understand those to be in the region of £1 million.
I have not, as yet, discussed the bid with colleagues at Westminster, although I will meet the relevant Cabinet ministers next month. I have, however, had very interesting discussions with Bryan Beattie, who is one of the organisers of the bid. He is very pleased with the level of support to date. John Farquhar Munro will be aware that the First Minister and my colleague Mike Watson pledged their support at a press conference only on Monday. A number of others did the same.
Although I welcome the Executive's support for the bid thus far, does the minister agree that, for the bid to have a reasonable prospect of success, it will be necessary to demonstrate that there are good and affordable air travel links to Inverness? If she agrees, will she confirm that the Executive will carefully consider helping Highlands and Islands Airports Limited in its progress to reduce landing charges? Will the minister reaffirm the unqualified support of the Scottish Executive for the application of a public service obligation to the Inverness-Gatwick route?
Mr Ewing's question would really be better directed towards my colleagues in the transport department. However, my colleague Dr Lewis Macdonald, who is sitting on my right, assures me that the answer to Mr Ewing's latter question is yes.
Nursery Teachers' Salaries
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the level of salaries paid to nursery teachers is adequate. (S1O-4974)
Yes. Nursery teachers are paid on the same scale as other teachers employed by local authorities. They have recently benefited from a salary increase of 23 per cent over three years so that, by 2003, the salary range for a teacher on the main grade will be from £21,588 to £28,707.
Will the Executive take up the issue of nursery nurses, who operate in a teaching situation but who are paid only £10,000 a year after two years of training? After eight years of working in classroom-like situations, trying to develop the education of children at an early age, they can expect to receive a maximum of only £13,300. Their last review was 12 years ago. Will the Executive give a commitment, here today, to review the wages and salaries of nursery nurses?
As Tommy Sheridan is well aware, a review of pay and conditions is currently being undertaken by the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities through the single status agreement. It would not be appropriate for the Executive to intervene directly in that review. I am very well aware of the valuable role that nursery nurses play in the pre-5 sector. We have given a commitment to enabling the child care work force to improve their qualifications. I will continue to support that.
Land Reform (Scotland) Bill (Section 9(2)(a))
To ask the Scottish Executive what economic assessment has been undertaken in order to evaluate the impact of section 9(2)(a) of the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill. (S1O-4971)
None.
I thank the minister for that response—[Laughter.] It was very much as I suspected it might be.
I undertook during the stage 1 debate to reconsider the construction of section 9(2)(a). However, I am bound to say that section 9(2)(a) does not, of itself, prevent existing businesses from conducting their business on the basis of their existing rights, either express or implied. That is why the Executive has carried out no such survey. As anyone will know who read the policy memorandum that accompanied the bill when it was introduced, it is not our intention to prevent a range of activities; indeed, it is our intention to extend that range. However, I accept that interpretation of section 9(2)(a) has led to confusion. That is why I have undertaken to examine it, in the hope that I might introduce an amendment at stage 2.
The minister will be aware that when the bill finally becomes law it will be up to landowners to make decisions about providing access to commercial companies. The real concern arises out of possible changes under section 9(2)(a). Given that most of the concerns of landowners seem to be about the possibility of people staging rock concerts or similar day-long events, what consideration has the minister given to redrafting section 9(2)(a) so as to include only ventures that involve the erection of a tangible structure—even if it is temporary—and to exclude others, such as mountain guides, who are exercising ordinary access rights?
During the closing speeches of the stage 1 debate I indicated—although perhaps not as definitively as I might have—that I want to draw a distinction between exercising as passage within a property, as Mr Matheson suggested, or as a passage across land, and activity similar to that to which Roseanna Cunningham has referred. It is not quite as simple as that, but as I indicated in the debate that is the direction in which my mind is moving. There are distinctions to be drawn and I hope to lodge an appropriate amendment at stage 2.
Seeing the difficulty that the minister has in rising from his chair, I offer him both my sympathy and the telephone number of my wife—but only because she is an accomplished physiotherapist. [Laughter.] I mean that to be a helpful offer.
I am grateful to the member for his sympathy. In my present state I would not wish to exclude physiotherapy under section 9(2)(a). Apart from that most helpful offer, more often the member is given to making declarations of interest on agricultural matters, rather than to advertising.
I welcome the minister's strong hint about lodging an amendment. I hope that he will consider the impact of a restrictive interpretation of section 9(2)(a) on the delivery of our social justice agenda. I am thinking of children in my constituency who benefit from being taken on land in safety and guided by those who know what they are doing. I hope that the minister will bear that in mind when framing the amendment, in order to make a distinction between natural and non-natural uses of land.
I am grateful to Brian Fitzpatrick and Roseanna Cunningham for attempting to refine and draft a new section for me. That is helpful and I hope that the parliamentary draftsmen are listening so that they can assist me in framing an amendment to be lodged at stage 2.
Freshwater Fisheries
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will introduce any changes to legislation on freshwater fisheries in order to improve public access to angling on rivers and lochs. (S1O-4968)
Public access is one of the issues covered by the recent green paper, "Scotland's freshwater fish and fisheries: Securing their future". I am currently considering with my officials how we might take forward the proposals in light of the responses of consultees. I shall make a statement on that shortly.
It is now two years since I launched the Executive's consultation on protecting and promoting Scotland's freshwater fisheries, so I hope that the minister will be able to make progress on the matter soon. Will he confirm that the existing legislation on freshwater fish is a mess, that there is an urgent need for new legislation to protect native fish species and that the Labour party's objective must be to help local angling clubs to increase public access to an extremely popular sport, not only for our citizens but for tourists who are visiting Scotland? Can we have a white paper this year, please?
John Home Robertson makes two substantive points. I agree that legislative change is required; the green paper is acknowledged to be one of a series of measures that we envisage will be necessary to create a structure for the better conservation and management of our freshwater fish. A bill to consolidate the Scottish salmon and freshwater fisheries legislation is at an advanced state of development and is scheduled to be presented to Parliament later this year. It is the first such consolidated bill.
Is the minister aware that Lord Mackay of Clashfern, when he was the Lord Advocate, stated to me in a letter that the common-law position in Scotland is that freshwater fish in free-running water are not the property of anyone until they are caught, when they become the property of the person who caught them irrespective of whether that person is the owner of the fishing rights or has permission to fish from the owner of the fishing rights? Will the minister tell landowners to remove all "No Fishing" signs from areas that are not covered by a protection order?
Whatever else I am responsible for, I am not responsible for the statements of Lord Mackay of Clashfern—unfortunately. It is our intention to introduce a Scotland-wide system to balance the interests of anglers and riparian landowners. You will be aware, Dennis—you were probably at Westminster in 1976—that the current system is considered in certain areas to have failed in its primary objective of guaranteeing significant increases in angling access, although you introduced the legislation with admirable intent.
No, I voted against it.
That can be checked, I am sure.
Will the minister agree to introduce such a bill as soon as possible? Anglers who fish in the Stirling Council area say that low-income families and elderly and disabled people are increasingly being excluded from fishing and that the situation is getting worse.
I repeat that it is our intention to introduce legislation to repeal the 1976 act to broaden access. I shall do that as soon as the legislative opportunity arises.
Local Government (Electoral Reform)
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made on electoral reform for local government. (S1O-4994)
Yesterday we published our white paper on renewing local democracy, which, among many other things, seeks views on options for electoral reform.
Is the minister aware that Liberal Democrat members consider the white paper that was published yesterday to be a real step forward in the progress towards electoral reform? Will he confirm that the Executive has given instructions for the necessary sections to be drafted that would allow for the introduction of the single transferable vote in elections for local government in Scotland?
I confirm that Executive officials have been instructed to draft appropriate sections in line with the options that are suggested in the white paper. I agree with Iain Smith that the paper that we published yesterday represents real progress on the issue. The white paper is not just about electoral reform; it is about how we modernise and make relevant local government in the future. Local government is central to the improvement of service delivery in Scotland.
The white paper includes the McIntosh commission recommendation that
The only thing that is heading backwards is the SNP with its arguments for independence for Scotland. The truth of the matter is that the Executive's Liberal and Labour partners are striding forwards actively to reinvigorate local democracy, because it is centrally important to how Scotland operates.
Will the minister confirm that the white paper has little to do with promoting local democracy and accountability but everything to do with protecting the self-serving interests of the Labour-Liberal Democrat Executive and that it will deliver nothing in time for the next local government elections?
That is an unduly cynical comment. Keith Harding is obviously in need of a holiday. The white paper represents substantial progress. Keith Harding fails to understand the true relationship between the Liberals and the Labour party in the coalition, which is a relationship of constructive engagement to seek progress in Scotland's public services.
Rather than fretting over which electoral system rewards this or that political party, should not we focus on which electoral system rewards not only the voters in our own parties but all the voters in Scotland? Surely the single transferable vote system is the system best suited to deepening and extending Scottish democracy in the 21st century, unlike first past the post, which consistently rewards the majority at the expense of the excluded minority?
John McAllion's views on the subject are well known and he has held them firmly for many years. The whole purpose of the white paper is to open up proposals to scrutiny and to seek the views of people about potential changes in the electoral system. Once we have heard the results of the consultation, we will make up our minds about what to do next in terms of legislation.
Voluntary Organisations
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking in order to support voluntary organisations and projects. (S1O-4980)
The Scottish Executive is fully committed to supporting the voluntary sector and to modernising the legal, financial and infrastructure framework in which it operates. We have increased direct financial support for the sector from £23 million in 1998-99 to £39 million in 2001-02. We are nearing completion of the review of our direct funding of the sector and have announced our response to the review of support for the minority ethnic voluntary sector. We are reviewing the Executive's role in supporting the social economy and we shall shortly be starting a more strategic review of the public sector's support for the sector.
Many voluntary organisations still do not have secure funding from local authorities. Organisations in my constituency, such as the Edinburgh Streetwork Project, which I know the minister is well aware of, still face a yearly crisis in their funding arrangements. Will the minister give a commitment to do everything that he can to work with local authorities to ensure that three-year funding packages are in place for voluntary organisations?
As Sarah Boyack knows, I am aware of the problems that the Edinburgh Streetwork Project recently faced. I am glad that a solution was found and that the excellent work that the project undertakes with the homeless in Edinburgh will continue. The Executive indicates three-year finance levels to local authorities and we believe that that should allow local authorities in turn to indicate three-year finance levels to the voluntary sector organisations that they support. I accept that that does not always happen, which is one of the reasons behind the strategic review of voluntary sector funding that we have now agreed to begin. That review will examine the partnership between the Executive, the voluntary sector and local government to see what can be done to improve funding commitments and make them more effective. Officials have already had informal talks with the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities. We are leading by example. Following the review of direct funding, the Executive is now committed to providing three-year funding packages.
Is the minister aware that, in a written answer to me, his colleague the Deputy Minister for Finance and Public Services rejected allocating any of the £200 million underspend to Scottish Borders Council, and that, as a consequence, voluntary organisations such as the Gala Youth Project, which I have mentioned before and which supports hundreds of young people in difficulties, and Penumbra, which provides supported accommodation for vulnerable young people, will lose out and could close down? Does he think that his Cabinet colleague is supporting voluntary organisations in the Borders?
The different roles of different layers of government and their relationship with the voluntary sector are important. It is right and proper that local authorities have the autonomy to take decisions about how services are delivered in their area and I would expect such decisions to include consideration of how and where the voluntary sector can make services more efficient and effective. Local authorities rightly have autonomy and rightly must answer to their electorates for their decisions. Our role is to provide a legal framework and support the national infrastructure. In replying to previous questions, I have tried to show that we have done that. The issue of the funding of Scottish Borders Council has been raised a number of times in the chamber and clear and unequivocal answers have been given to the point that Christine Grahame again raised.
How does the Executive ensure that money that is allocated to community projects reaches those who need it most and does not find its way to schemes that are outwith stated priority areas?
I did not catch the end of Lyndsay McIntosh's question.
Should I repeat it?
If she raised a specific issue, it would be helpful if she gave me details. If she asked whether we should ring fence money that we expect to be used to fund voluntary organisations, I should say that that is not our approach—I have just described our approach. Local authorities are in the lead in respect of responsibility for service delivery in their local areas. They must deliver services through best value and in the best way that they can. We believe that the voluntary sector has a significant role to play and when we make our community regeneration statement, which will be soon, we will elaborate on the additionality that the voluntary sector can bring. In the end, decisions are properly for local authorities, which answer to their electorates for those decisions.
Ozone-depleting Substances
To ask the Scottish Executive what facilities there are for dealing with the removal of ozone-depleting substances from domestic refrigerators and freezers as required under EC regulation 2037/2000. (S1O-4984)
The position is changing rapidly. Currently, Shanks's high-temperature incineration plant at Fawley in Hampshire and Cleanaway's plant at Ellesmere Port in Cheshire are able to deal with waste fridges to the new standards. The German company SEG, which manufacturers mobile treatment plants, is conducting a series of demonstrations at different locations throughout the UK in conjunction with local waste management companies.
The reality is that no suitable treatment exists in Scotland, yet the Government has known about the EC regulation for the past two years. Does the minister agree that storage and draft regulations are not good enough? Will he tell us when he plans to produce final guidelines? The Government's delay and dither are preventing Scots companies from creating employment and helping the environment.
I do not agree. I agree that there has been a draft regulation for nearly two years, but the precise nature of the ban of the foam substance was not known two years ago. If members want to, they can look up the European Court of Justice's ruling.
MMR Vaccine Report
To ask the Scottish Executive when the findings of the report of the expert group on measles, mumps and rubella will be made public. (S1O-4956)
I expect to receive the expert group's report in April and hope to publish as soon as possible thereafter.
Does the minister agree with Professor Phil Hanlon, the director of the Public Health Institute of Scotland, who was quoted in The Scotsman on Monday calling for the introduction of single vaccines for children whose parents resolutely refuse to have them immunised with the MMR vaccine? Will the minister implement the expert group's recommendations, regardless of whether they conflict with current Government policy?
The fact of the matter is that Professor Hanlon has no doubts about the safety of MMR, as he has made clear. There are conflicting reports about the context of his remarks. The fact is that majority medical opinion clearly supports MMR. Professor Hanlon made it clear that he was making a pragmatic judgment, but the pragmatic judgment of the majority of medical people is that, if we moved to single vaccines, coverage would fall dramatically and we would be putting the population at risk from measles, mumps and rubella.
Previous
Business Motion