Meeting of the Parliament

Meeting date: Thursday, June 28, 2012

Official Report 1110KB pdf

---

Scottish Executive Question Time

---

General Questions

---

Violence Reduction Unit

1. To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met representatives of the violence reduction unit and what issues were discussed. (S4O-01179)

Scottish Government officials met representatives of the violence reduction unit on 25 June 2012 to discuss how innovative prevention initiatives are helping to keep violent crime at a 30-year low.

The violence reduction unit has carried out a pilot in Lanarkshire hospitals that seeks to improve the recording of information about knife crime. Currently accident and emergency departments do not record what types of weapons are used in serious assaults and stabbings—weapons that can range from kitchen knives to samurai swords. That information would be useful to the police and other public bodies in developing effective prevention strategies and in identifying where weapons—and what types of weapons—are being used in violent incidents.

Can the cabinet secretary confirm that he considers that health boards should be required to collect information about the types of weapons that are used in serious assaults? Can he update members on the outcomes of the Lanarkshire pilot?

I am aware of the matter that Margaret Mitchell raises—I believe that Stewart Maxwell has raised it in the chamber previously. There is a clear desire by everybody—not just the police and justice authorities, but health boards—to ensure that the information is provided. If I recall correctly from when the issue was raised previously, such information is already being provided in south Wales and in other areas south of the border.

There are technical issues relating to information technology systems and so on, but I assure the member that we welcome the pilot and that the issue is being looked at by the police and the health board. The impediments and the delay relate more to technological challenges than to any desire not to proceed. I am happy to keep the member appraised as matters progress. I give her my full assurance that we are looking to build on the pilot. The obstacles tend to relate to IT systems, but they can be dealt with. They have been resolved elsewhere, so there is no reason why they cannot be dealt with in Scotland.

---

Parades (Policing Costs) (Glasgow)

2. To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with stakeholders regarding the cost of policing parades in Glasgow. (S4O-01180)

The cost of policing marches and parades in Glasgow was discussed during my meeting with the Association of Scottish Police Superintendents on 19 June 2012. Officials also discussed the issue recently with Assistant Chief Constable Higgins of Strathclyde Police in the context of the Jubilee weekend marches in Glasgow.

There were almost 300 Orange parades last year in Glasgow alone. During times of financial restraint, does the cabinet secretary agree that perhaps we need to think of measures whereby the cost of keeping the public safe does not fall solely on the police?

I accept that there are significant issues. Early on in our administration, we faced the incident at Glasgow airport; about three weeks later, we faced the apprentice boys march in Glasgow. As I recall, at a time when we faced challenges in Scotland from an attempted terrorist atrocity, about 1,800 officers were deployed to cover that march.

This is fundamentally about balance. In terms of the legislation, we have to ensure that we do not catch innocuous events such as a Boys Brigade march when we seek to take action against events that have huge cost implications. Such issues are for local authorities to deal with. However, as an Administration we have made it clear that although we recognise the rights of individuals to take such opportunities—even when we disagree with what they are protesting about—a whole variety of issues need to be taken into account, including the implications for police.

I have discussed the issue with the ASPS, and my ministerial colleague Roseanna Cunningham is taking it forward. We accept that there are huge implications in terms of policing and cost, and we are more than happy to work with local authorities to ensure that, as a country, we get the right balance between the right of people to march and demonstrate and the right of communities to be protected and not face significant costs and challenges to their police, who have other things to do apart from simply looking after the desires of a small minority.

---

Lightburn Hospital

3. To ask the Scottish Executive what instructions the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Wellbeing and Cities Strategy has given NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde in relation to reinstating services at Lightburn hospital. (S4O-01181)

When I made my decision to reject NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s proposal to close Lightburn hospital last December, I was clear that the health board should work to maintain and improve the quality of the service that is delivered from the hospital in the best interests of local people.

The cabinet secretary and I agree on one thing, which is that Lightburn hospital has a future. However, those warm words mean nothing when local campaigners such as Gerry McCann advise us that the only progress that has been made at Lightburn hospital is the installation of a vending machine following the closure of the canteen. When can we expect real progress at Lightburn hospital?

As a preface to the substance of my answer, I say to Paul Martin that I do not indulge in warm words when it comes to Lightburn hospital; I acted to save it from closure. That was welcomed by Gerry McCann, who said:

“We’re delighted Nicola Sturgeon listened and common sense has prevailed.”

However, I recognise that concerns remain about the fabric and maintenance of the accommodation at Lightburn. The board has commissioned a review of the buildings to develop a robust capital plan for the site. Rather than signalling any removal of services from the hospital, the health board has confirmed that it will consider opening new or complementary services at the hospital. The board hopes to conclude the review during the summer. I expect local stakeholders to continue to be fully and meaningfully engaged as the work is taken forward. I am happy to ask NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to keep Paul Martin fully informed of progress.

---

Raptor Populations

4. To ask the Scottish Executive how it assesses the population of raptor species across Scotland and how this information is recorded and published. (S4O-01182)

Information on the number and breeding performance of the 19 species of raptor and owl that regularly breed in Scotland is co-ordinated annually by Scottish Natural Heritage and collated under the Scottish raptor monitoring scheme. There is a link to the information from the SRMS on the Scottish Natural Heritage website.

I thank the minister for that answer and for the written answer that I received yesterday on a related subject. The minister will be aware that there is a growing number of reports of attacks by large avian predators on livestock. That was brought home to me by a constituent, Mrs Moyra Gray of Glendye, who successfully filmed a golden eagle attacking a lamb—although, happily, the attack was fought off by a particularly vociferous blackface ewe. Will the minister give an undertaking that, in what is a difficult situation, he will ensure that there is accurate and independent recording of populations of large avian predators and of reports of attacks on livestock to ensure that, at some point in the not-too-distant future, we begin to address the issue of how farmers might be appropriately compensated for what I believe are increasing losses?

I take the member’s general point that any actions that Government takes should be evidence based. No one would disagree with that. We certainly want to understand the nature of the issue. It was interesting that, yesterday, a film was released of a buzzard taking an osprey chick, which shows that sometimes there are issues between raptor species and not simply issues for animals for which humans are responsible. I am certainly always interested to have more information so that we can better inform our decisions.

---

Scotland’s Languages

5. To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on implementing the recommendation of the Scottish studies working group that opportunities to learn Scotland’s languages should be promoted. (S4O-01183)

Opportunities to learn Scotland’s languages are being promoted and strengthened in collaboration with Education Scotland, Bòrd na Gàidhlig, Stòrlann Nàiseanta na Gàidhlig, the Association for Scottish Literary Studies, the Scots Language Centre, Scottish Language Dictionaries and other partners.

A Scottish literature website is being developed by Education Scotland in partnership with the University of Glasgow. A network of co-ordinators will support professional learning and sharing of practice and will help to build confidence in the use of Scotland’s languages. Progress is also being made on a learning about Scotland co-ordinators network, which will promote learning and teaching about Scotland, with a key explicit role of promoting the Scots and Gaelic languages. Recommendations on Scottish texts in the new national qualifications in English have been implemented and progress is being made on the development of an award in Scottish studies.

Will British Sign Language be one of the languages in relation to which opportunities to learn are promoted?

I confirm that we want more opportunities for those in our schools to learn, and learn about, BSL and that we recognise not only its value as a means of communication but its cultural and social value.

---

Probationer Teachers

6. To ask the Scottish Government how many probationer teachers have found employment in the last year. (S4O-01184)

One thousand nine hundred and eighty-five probationer teachers took up their allocated teaching posts on the teacher induction scheme at the start of the school session in August 2011. That figure represents more than 95 per cent of those eligible to join the scheme.

Does the cabinet secretary agree that those figures show that the Scottish Government is continuing to protect and invest in crucial front-line education at a time when we are having to deal with ever-deepening cuts and austerity from the Tory-Liberal Democrat Westminster Government?

I do not find it difficult to agree with such an assertion; indeed, I am very happy to sign up to it in its entirety. Despite the difficult financial constraints that have been imposed on us by the Westminster Government—or, should I say, successive Westminster Governments—we have secured from local authorities a commitment that they will continue to ensure that places are offered to all probationer teachers.

It is also significant to note that according to a recent General Teaching Council for Scotland survey 88 per cent of last year’s probationer teachers secured some form of teaching employment during the current year, with 59 per cent of them in full-time employment. That means that our record in teacher employment is better than any other part of these islands, but we can always do better and will go on working hard on the matter.

---

Further Education Colleges (Funding)

8. To ask the Scottish Executive what the impact on colleges is of the reductions in their funding. (S4O-01186)

There is no reduction in funding for colleges in financial year 2012-13. [Interruption.] Presiding Officer, there is no reduction in funding for colleges in financial year 2012-13. [Applause.] Indeed, we are continuing to fund the sector to allow it to maintain the volume of its teaching activity, ensuring that even in the current difficult financial climate, which has been caused by Westminster, the overall offer to students is undiminished.

Colleges are increasingly prioritising in favour of young people at risk of unemployment and are offering more full-time courses. That has led to a 9 per cent increase in full-time courses at advanced level and a 1 per cent increase in full-time courses at non-advanced level. That is being achieved by enrolling fewer people on courses that are very short or do not lead to a qualification, or courses that are of less economic relevance and which, consequently, are less likely to lead to a job.

Good-quality education will be essential in growing our economy and allowing people to fulfil their potential. The Educational Institute of Scotland says that 1,800 jobs have already been lost in Scottish colleges. How many colleges have, as a result of the cuts, reduced real subjects, by which I mean courses on real topics, not those without any qualification value?

I am very happy to assure Mr Malik that we are trying to ensure an increase in real opportunities. I have no power of direction over colleges—I am sure that Mr Malik finds that as difficult to believe as I do, but the power was taken away by a previous Labour-Liberal Government and, as a result, I cannot tell colleges how to employ people. However, I have repeatedly told—and will go on telling—every college that I believe that compulsory redundancy is wrong. If the entire chamber joined me and said, “That’s how we want to go forward,” we would be able to send out an even more powerful message.

Nevertheless, I agree with Mr Malik: we must ensure that real opportunities lead to real jobs. That is the purpose of the college reforms, and I am very glad that Mr Henry endorsed them this morning in response to my statement.

---

Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley (Economy)

9. To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to grow the economy in Kilmarnock and Irvine valley. (S4O-01187)

In encouraging and promoting sustainable economic growth throughout Scotland, including Kilmarnock and the Irvine valley, the Scottish Government works closely with a wide range of organisations such as Scottish Enterprise, Scottish Development International, Skills Development Scotland, VisitScotland, the relevant local authorities, the third sector and financial institutions. We also have discussions with specialist sectoral advisory bodies to pursue particular opportunities to encourage economic growth. Responsibility for local economic growth lies with the local authority, and Scottish Government officials are working closely with East Ayrshire Council to support it as it progresses its local economic plans.

I thank the cabinet secretary for his detailed response. He will be aware of the disappointment of the board of make it Kilmarnock at Diageo’s decision to not support a legacy fund for the town, which was compounded by its recent announcement of its billion-pound investment elsewhere in Scotland. Will the cabinet secretary assure me that everything possible is being done to support East Ayrshire Council to progress its efforts to rebuild the economy in the area, and will he perhaps invite Diageo to play a greater part in that process?

I confirm that just the other week, I had very fruitful discussions with make it Kilmarnock, in which it gave me a number of suggestions about how the Government could perhaps further assist the stimulation of economic growth and development in Kilmarnock and the wider East Ayrshire area. That dialogue is helpful and on-going, and my officials are assessing some of the proposals that have been put forward.

Diageo has made it clear that it wants to leave a positive legacy for Kilmarnock. Joint work has been taken forward with the education secretary on the development of the new Kilmarnock College, which, of course, is on land that has been gifted by Diageo. We will continue to have dialogue with Diageo on these important questions. It is important that I put on record the fact that the company has made a very sizable investment in the future of production in Scotland, which helps to demonstrate that Scotland is a country in which it is practical, possible and attractive to do business in the current challenging economic climate.

---

In Vitro Fertilisation Treatment

10. To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with national health service boards regarding the provision of in vitro fertilisation treatment. (S4O-01188)

The provision of IVF treatment was raised in the 2011 annual reviews of national health service boards with waiting times of 18 months or more, and will be followed up during the forthcoming 2012 annual reviews. The provision of IVF treatment was discussed with NHS board chief executives in April 2012, in light of the Government’s 12-month waiting time commitment. We will be writing to NHS boards shortly to ask for clear plans on how they will meet the Government’s 12-month waiting time commitment for IVF, which is to be in place by March 2015, and we will request regular updates to ensure that the plans meet those timescales.

The minister will be aware of proposals in England and Wales to extend the upper age limit from 40 to 42 for provision of IVF treatment. That differs from the current age limit in Scotland, which is 40. Does the minister agree that if such proposals go ahead, they will cause anxiety and stress to those currently in the 40 to 42 age range in Scotland? Will he commit to take the necessary steps to ensure that the proposals are also implemented in Scotland?

I recognise the anxiety that couples can have over changes in arrangements around IVF treatment. I also recognise that there are some inconsistencies in how different NHS boards in Scotland provide IVF services. It is important that we address those issues so that couples have certainty on the way in which services will be provided locally.

We have established the national infertility group, which is an expert group comprising a range of stakeholders, to look at the approaches of Scottish NHS boards, how we can improve the provision of IVF services and the most up-to-date evidence on the provision of IVF treatment. We expect to receive that group’s report early next year, which will inform how we move forward with the NHS in Scotland on the provision of IVF treatment. The group will also look at the issue of age range, based on the most up-to-date evidence that we have. I have no doubt that the expert group will make its recommendations to ministers, who will then consider how to progress them with the NHS in Scotland.