Meeting of the Parliament

Meeting date: Thursday, March 28, 2013

Official Report 807KB pdf

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General Question Time

Question 1, in the name of Helen Eadie, has been withdrawn. I am satisfied with Mrs Eadie’s explanation.

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Banks (Agency and Branch Closures)

2. To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the possible impact on jobs and communities, what its position is on banks closing agencies and branches throughout the country. (S4O-01976)

The Scottish Government fully understands the impact on local communities of agency and branch closures and we are particularly concerned to ensure that any job losses are minimised. Through initiatives such as the finance sector jobs task force and our partnership action for continuing employment, the Scottish Government works with relevant partners to provide effective support and help to any staff facing potential redundancy.

Although the Scottish Government is unable to intervene in commercial decisions that are made by financial services companies, the Scottish ministers engage regularly with senior representatives from the financial services industry in Scotland on matters of mutual concern, including maximising employment and ensuring access to finance.

The cabinet secretary will be aware that a number of banks have announced the closure of agencies and branches in the west of Scotland, specifically in Gourock in Inverclyde and Alexandria in West Dunbartonshire. That will mean that my constituents will have to travel a large distance, in some cases, to find a suitable branch. What further reassurances can the cabinet secretary provide to my constituents that the liaison that he mentions will continue, so that the banks that are closing agencies and branches will do so in a way that will have the most minimal effect on their clients and customers?

I quite understand the concerns that Mr McMillan is raising on behalf of his constituents. Clearly, genuine inconvenience can be caused to members of the public by bank branch and agency closures in their areas.

We encourage the banking sector to maintain dialogue with communities about the provision of accessible financial services in communities. We also encourage the provision of the services of other financial organisations in communities, particularly credit unions. In Mr McMillan’s region, there are a number of credit unions that provide accessible support and services to members of the public in their areas. The Government is actively involved in discussions with representatives of that sector about how we can develop further their presence in communities.

The cabinet secretary might be aware that RBS is planning to close a branch in Shettleston, in my constituency, which will leave only one RBS branch for 70,000 people. Does the minister share my frustration that a publicly owned company should be treating the public with such contempt?

As I said to Mr McMillan, bank closures can cause significant inconvenience to members of the public. In the light of the issues that have been raised by Mr McMillan and Mr Mason, I will have further dialogue with the banks about ensuring that an accessible approach is taken to the delivery of bank branch services.

Banks are changing many of their models of operation but, for a number of members of the public, access to digital banking and other online services will not be a practical proposition or one with which they are comfortable operating. Given the importance of access to credible and strong financial services in our communities, we must ensure that such access is guaranteed to members of the public. I will raise those issues with the banks.

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Neonicotinoids

3. To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the continuing use of neonicotinoids. (S4O-01977)

The Scottish Government’s position on the use of neonicotinoids continues to be informed by scientific advice from the Advisory Committee on Pesticides—ACP—and our scientists at Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture—SASA.

We know that high doses of neonicotinoids in laboratory conditions are harmful to bees, but we also know that real-life field conditions are different. That is why the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment asked the ACP urgently to provide new advice on a review of field trials on bumblebees.

The Scottish Government received that advice last night. We will need to examine it closely and consider our next steps. Even when we have had time to consider the new scientific advice thoroughly, it may not give us complete clarity. However, we also need to bear in mind the precautionary principle. Therefore, if in light of the new advice, the case for the European Union’s precautionary measures is strong, I would want the United Kingdom Government to consider supporting them.

It is, of course, essential that any decision on the future use of neonicotinoids should be based on sound scientific evidence. Is the minister aware of the research carried out by the University of Dundee that suggested that neonicotinoids interfere with the brains of bees and that there is a striking and concerning difference between honey bee survival rates in the east of Scotland and those in the west of Scotland? Does he accept that it is becoming evident that there is a need to act to protect bee populations not only from a biodiversity perspective but to safeguard Scotland’s hugely important soft fruit sector?

Yes. Ministers agree that there is a need for urgency on the matter. As the Scottish Government received only late last night the advice that it requested from the Advisory Committee on Pesticides, ministers will now need to consider that and other evidence, such as the Dundee study to which Mr Dey refers, before commenting on the detail and any implications for biodiversity or the farming sector.

According to the last pesticide usage survey in the soft fruit sector, which was carried out in 2010, growers used a neonicotinoid on their crops that was not one of the three neonicotinoids suspected to be of concern. However, the Scottish Government recognises the impact on the farming industry and will take that into account when establishing a final view on the issue.

It is worth stating that only 1 per cent of pesticide use in Scotland is in the form of neonicotinoids, largely because our colder climate means that fungal pathogens are a greater threat to our crops than insect pests.

Will the minister confirm whether the Scottish Government has had and intends to have any discussions with the UK Government about the EU proposal to ban three types of neonicotinoid pesticides? As Graeme Dey’s supplementary question noted, those neonicotinoids are dangerous to bees when used on flowering plants. That was stated in January by the European Food Safety Authority.

I confirm that the cabinet secretary has had discussions with his counterpart, Owen Paterson, in advance of the Council of the European Union meeting. Discussions continue. I assure the member that the cabinet secretary is committed to examining the issue in depth and ensuring that we take a considered position.

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“When parents are detained”

4. To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the findings of the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland’s report, “When parents are detained”. (S4O-01978)

The Scottish Government notes with interest the various recommendations in the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland’s monitoring report, “When parents are detained”.

The report highlights some areas where the commission believes that improvements could be made, such as increasing awareness of duties under section 278 of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003; highlighting that care plans should take into account any possible impact on the patient’s family; improving communication between the various professionals involved in a case; and improving child-friendly resources.

The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that the effects of parental mental illness on children and families are mitigated as much as possible. We shall, therefore, carefully consider the recommendations in the report and whether there are any ways in which we can assist in the promotion of good practice.

As the minister may or may not be aware, residents in the Strathkelvin ward in North Lanarkshire receive health provision from Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS Board, not from NHS Lanarkshire. Can the minister advise me whether a review of the health board boundaries would assist in the Government’s commitment to fully integrate mental health provision and address the recommendations in the “When parents are detained” report?

The services that are provided by Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS Board to which Mr Wilson refers should be at a similar level and of a similar nature to those that are provided in the area of NHS Lanarkshire’s responsibility. The report highlighted issues around section 278 of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003, which applies to all health board and local authority areas. I expect to see greater consistency in taking that forward, as is proposed in the seven recommendations in the report. We will look at what further measures can be taken to ensure greater consistency across health board and local authority areas in applying that particular provision of the 2003 act.

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Supermarkets (Local Produce)

5. To ask the Scottish Government how it encourages supermarkets to stock local produce. (S4O-01979)

It is vital that the people of Scotland have access to the fantastic range of fine food and drink that we have right here on our doorstep. The Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment, Richard Lochhead, recently spoke with all the major retailers in Scotland at our regular retailers forum meeting, and again took the opportunity to encourage them to source more local products.

Today, after having done a quick survey in my Aberdeenshire West constituency, I wrote to Tesco to express my disappointment that it is stocking only just over 25 per cent of Scots lamb while the remainder of its stock is New Zealand lamb. Does the minister agree that more needs to be done to encourage all supermarkets to stock more of our meat, poultry and fish?

The member can be assured that the Scottish ministers will continue to do all that they can to promote the presence of our world-renowned Scots brands on retailers’ shelves. We urge all consumers to do likewise by asking their local stores to stock Scottish produce.

One of the positives to come out of the horsemeat scandal is that we know that consumers are looking for provenance and that the Scottish brand is associated with traceability and quality. In order to build on the recent upsurge in consumer demand for locally sourced meat, which has resulted in more than 90 per cent of butchers’ shops recording increased sales, the Scottish Government is providing an additional £1 million to Quality Meat Scotland, which will fund a number of promotional activities to further strengthen the visibility and provenance that underpin the Scottish label.

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Maintenance of Land on Private Housing Estates (Consultation Findings)

6. To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the findings of its consultation on the maintenance of land on private housing estates, which closed on the 11th June 2011. (S4O-01980)

We received 62 responses in that consultation, five of which requested confidentiality; the remainder have been published on the Scottish Government website. Unfortunately, a significant number of responses contained material that might be considered defamatory, and we had to carefully scrutinise them and redact sections of them. As the member may be aware, if the Government published a defamatory statement, it would become party to that defamation.

Most responses supported changes to the legislation. There was also support for enhancing consumer choice by non-statutory means to make it easier for consumers to dismiss and replace their land maintenance company. However, difficulties were highlighted with the legislative approach where land is owned by the maintenance company, and careful consideration is having to be given to the consequences of that.

The maintenance of common land on private housing estates is a big problem across Scotland. In Cumbernauld in particular, residents are purchasing homes without the full knowledge that they will be burdened with future maintenance costs for areas of ground, play parks and public spaces.

It is not acceptable that the results of a consultation that closed in June 2011 have still not been published, despite two parliamentary questions and an oral question from Jim Hume. Parliament was promised answers early in the new year. How many other Government consultations are still outstanding?

For obvious reasons, I cannot speak about anything other than what is in my portfolio. If the member is concerned about establishing how many other Government consultations are still outstanding, I have no doubt that he can ask what the position is across a range of them.

I would have expected the member to be more concerned about what has been happening in practice over the past two years. Although there have been problems as a consequence of the submissions to that consultation, it is not the case that things have not changed. Through the implementation of the Property Factors (Scotland) Act 2011, a home owner housing panel was established, and home owners may complain to it about the level of service from their land maintenance company or property factor. The member should be aware—if he has not been up until now—that, quite separately, the Justice Committee has been looking into the Title Conditions (Scotland) Act 2003, and some of its inquiry has related to aspects of this matter.

It is therefore not the case that nothing has been happening. We are carefully considering the consequences of changing legislation in this area. As yet, however, we have not been able to come to a definitive conclusion on that.

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Healthcare Improvement Scotland (Review)

7. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will conduct a review of Healthcare Improvement Scotland in light of reports that a fourth person has resigned from the organisation following the unpublished inspection into older people’s care at Ninewells hospital. (S4O-01981)

The Scottish Government is in continuous discussion with Healthcare Improvement Scotland as part of the standard performance management arrangements for NHS Scotland. Those arrangements are supported by local delivery planning and the publicly held annual review.

In February 2013, to strengthen its inspections, Healthcare Improvement Scotland invited external experts to review the processes surrounding the inspection that was carried out on the care of older people at Ninewells hospital. The review team will seek input from all those involved in the Ninewells inspections and from other stakeholders. A report is expected from the team in May 2013.

I asked the cabinet secretary whether he would conduct a review of Healthcare Improvement Scotland, as the debacle over this matter undermines its structure. There have now been five resignations—it was four when I lodged my question—of three inspectors and two public partners. Can the cabinet secretary tell me how many inspectors at HIS now hold the regulation of care award? It is my understanding that it is none and that HIS has lost every qualified inspector as a result of this mess. In his answer, will the cabinet secretary refrain from blaming the inspectors, as he has done to date, for the mess that he has presided over?

Pots, kettles and calling them black come to mind in relation to Ms Marra’s behaviour regarding this situation. She has already had to retract at least one of the statements that she made on the BBC in relation to a meeting with the chief executive of NHS Tayside. If Ms Marra wants to get the detailed information that she is looking for regarding the inspectors, I am happy to ensure that she is provided with it.

Healthcare Improvement Scotland continues to carry out inspections to a high standard. The review of the situation at Ninewells is being carried out by a team of three people external to HIS, all of whom are highly qualified: Audrey Cowie, David Cumming and Francis Dowe CBE, who is a former vice-principal of the University of Edinburgh and chaired a review of professionalism in nursing and midwifery. That is a strong team to carry out that review. We will listen to what the review has to say and we will learn the lessons. I am sure that the team will come up with much better ideas than Jenny Marra.

I can take question 8 from Duncan McNeil if the questions and answers are very brief.

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Cashback for Communities (Meetings with Partners)

8. To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Justice last met with cashback partners and what was discussed. (S4O-01982)

The day-to-day management and interaction with all the cashback projects takes place through our delivery team at Inspiring Scotland. However, I regularly meet individual cashback project partners up and down the country. Most recently, I met representatives of Screen Education Edinburgh, which is delivering the £25,000 Xpress yourself film-making project for young people. This afternoon, I will meet representatives of basketballscotland.

I refer the cabinet secretary to the recently published cashback for communities programme, which acknowledged that, disappointingly, we do not know the extent of the impact of the programme on young people. Given that the cashback programme has been running for six years and that £30 million has been claimed by the partners, is it not scandalous that we do not know how it has helped to divert young people from crime and antisocial behaviour? What will the cabinet secretary do to address those failings?

I think that the cashback scheme has been highly successful. That is why it is a pleasure to have met people who are involved in arts and drama, such as Screen Education Edinburgh, and in basketball, which is a minority sport that we seek to support—never mind the significant support that we give to the Scottish Football Association for grassroots football and indeed to the Scottish Rugby Union. I look forward to the opening of third generation pitches at Meadowbank and in Dumfries shortly, as a result of the cashback project.

Before we come to First Minister’s question time, members will wish to join me in welcoming to the gallery: from the National Assembly for Wales, Presiding Officer Rosemary Butler and Deputy Presiding Officer David Melding—[Applause]—and from the Parliament of Queensland, Deputy Speaker Dr Mark Robinson MP. [Applause.]