Contents
- Scottish Parliament Thursday 29 January 2004
- Supreme Court
- First Minister's Question Time
- Question Time
- Budget (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
- Health Protection Agency Bill
- Decision Time
- Private Prisons (Consultation)
Question Time
SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE
Iraq (Trade)
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to help restart the trade in seed potatoes to Iraq. (S2O-1178)
The United Kingdom Government has established an industry working group on Iraq to provide advice to UK Trade & Investment on how to help UK companies to play a significant part in the regeneration of Iraq. Scottish Development International is working with UKTI to ensure that Scottish companies can fully access those opportunities.
The Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department is responsible for the issue of phytosanitary certificates in respect of Scottish seed potatoes. It recently received a tentative inquiry from the Scottish potato trade about resuming seed potato exports to Iraq and was able to confirm that the previous Iraqi phytosanitary conditions should continue to apply.
Given the importance to seed potato growers in the north-east of Scotland of contracts that have existed in previous years, and given that there were unfortunately no means to set up those trade contracts for the current year, will the minister undertake to observe the situation and to ensure that every step is taken to underpin the work of those who seek to further that trade?
Absolutely. The British Potato Council has been actively involved in trying to re-establish its contacts in Iraq and has recently had some success. Scottish companies have received inquiries about tenders for seed supply but, as yet, none has led to orders. I have this morning contacted the Prime Minister's special envoy on trade opportunities for British business to Iraq and he is happy to take up the case of Scotland's seed potato industry to see whether we can extend contracts into Iraq and Afghanistan.
Labour Force (Skills)
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to ensure that the labour force has the necessary skills to meet the country's needs. (S2O-1197)
We are committed to strengthening Scotland's skills base. Future Skills Scotland is tasked with identifying skills gaps and skills shortages throughout the Scottish economy, and that information is used by the enterprise networks, Careers Scotland and other agencies to seek to match the future supply of skills to the identified demand.
Does the minister agree that there is growing evidence that significant skills gaps are emerging in a range of sectors in the economy and in a range of parts of the country? Such skills gaps span professional and technical skills as well as more traditional skills, such as plumbing, joinery and welding. Does he agree that closing those skills gaps is vital if the Executive is to secure not only its economic policy objectives but many of its wider policy objectives? Will he take this opportunity to indicate what steps are being taken to step up the national effort to ensure that we have the skills that are needed both now and in the future?
I am aware of Susan Deacon's close interest in these matters. She is, of course, right to say that skills gaps must be addressed if we are to reach the range of social and economic targets that we have set ourselves. She will be aware that, in the context of low unemployment and increasing economic activity, particularly in sectors such as construction, employers inevitably face some difficulty in finding workers who have the necessary skills. That is why we asked Future Skills Scotland to look into the skills gap issue, particularly in the high-pressure sectors, although the employer survey that it conducted in November last year and in the previous year looked right across the Scottish economy. We are talking to Future Skills Scotland about the areas that it might address this year—for example, it might consider skills gaps in science and engineering.
It is fair to say that, by definition, predicting future skills needs can never be an exact science, particularly in the context of a growing economy. However, the more accurate the picture that can be drawn by Future Skills Scotland and others, the more readily the local enterprise companies, Careers Scotland and education and training providers can gear what they offer to what is required in the real economy.
The minister will be aware that there are huge skills gaps in the Highlands and Islands for tradespeople such as plumbers, joiners, electricians and painters. The Construction Industry Training Board has been doing its best to fill those gaps, but what will the Government do to speed up the process? Population loss goes with the problem of not being able to fill those posts.
I recognise those issues, which apply not only in the Highlands and Islands but in much of lowland Scotland. That is why just a couple of weeks ago I was delighted to take part in the Scottish launch of the construction sector skills council, in which employers come together with Government, both at a United Kingdom level and at a Scottish Executive level, to address those issues.
I also announced a couple of weeks ago the appointment of Graeme Millar as the chairman of the construction innovation and excellence forum, which is tasked specifically with addressing skills needs and other key issues in the construction and related sectors.
Will the minister outline what steps the Executive is taking to widen access to vocational training at further education colleges for 14 and 15-year-old school pupils?
As Murdo Fraser will be aware, we have made a commitment to carry that work forward. Work is being done jointly by the lifelong learning ministers and the education ministers to draw up the proper protocols and procedures to allow school pupils access to further education. We are clear about the importance of promoting vocational education opportunities at age 14 to those who are at school. We want to give school pupils access to further education courses where that can help.
As the minister is aware, I chair the cross-party group for construction. Last night, Robert Brown and I attended the meeting of our skills and training sub-group. Is the minister prepared to meet our group, which has representatives of the CITB and all sectors in the industry? Some 30 representatives attended our meeting yesterday evening. We extend an invitation to the minister to come to talk to us about the work of the sector skills councils and about how we can take the strategy forward.
I would be delighted to accept an invitation to do that later this year.
National Concessionary Travel Scheme (Consultation)
To ask the Scottish Executive what the reasons are for any delay in launching the consultation document on the proposed national concessionary travel scheme for elderly and disabled people and whether a date has now been set for the launch. (S2O-1188)
The consultation paper on concessionary travel is currently being finalised and will be issued soon.
I thank the minister for that reply. Is he aware that the delay has left pensioners considering that the national concessionary travel scheme is not a priority for the Executive? I can tell him that the scheme is a priority for pensioners.
In the meantime, will the minister confirm whether the new transport authority will have the power to ensure that the money to reimburse local authorities for the national concessionary scheme is spent as intended? The current calculation for the allocation of funds is obviously flawed. Due to the fact that car ownership has not been taken into account, authorities in Strathclyde are left with a deficit of between £5 million and £15 million, whereas Fife Council had a surplus, which it spent on social work services.
The scheme is a very high priority for the Executive and the document will be issued shortly. It is important that we consult not only the local authorities and operators involved but the groups that represent the elderly and disabled people with whom I am sure John Swinburne would wish us to engage in a thorough consultation. We will get on with the proposal and deliver it. The national scheme that we intend to introduce will be of significant benefit to all elderly people in Scotland.
Is the minister aware of the Dundee accessible transport action group's petition, which calls for affordable and accessible local transport for disabled people who cannot access public transport? Will he ensure that disabled people are given due consideration during the consultation period and that, in all parts of Scotland, options for door-to-door travel for disabled people will be properly explored?
I certainly will. An important aspect of the consultation, as far as I am concerned, will be to deliver on our commitment to assess improved public transport concessions for people with disabilities. The consultation does not refer specifically to bus travel but to public transport in general.
I realise that some individuals cannot easily access bus travel. I get frustrated when I discover that some local authorities offer people with quite significant disabilities the choice of either bus travel or a taxi card scheme. In my view, people with disabilities should have access to at least the option of bus travel and, if possible, a local authority taxi card initiative as well. Free bus travel should not be withdrawn when people opt for the taxi card. Those are issues of detail, but they are very important for a large number of disabled people in Scotland. I hope that the consultation that we will launch will tackle those issues and that we will make firm proposals thereafter.
Can the minister confirm that the existing local concessionary travel scheme for pensioners will continue? Can he also confirm that the Executive intends to introduce a nationwide travel scheme for pensioners by the end of the parliamentary session?
That is exactly the case. The local scheme has been very successful. The number of elderly people making use of it and travelling on our buses has increased significantly. The amount of money that we invest in concessionary travel has shot up, as statistics that will soon be released will show. We are investing more than ever before in concessionary travel. The local scheme was only a start. We intend to move forward with a national scheme and are determined to deliver on the partnership agreement in that regard.
M74 Northern Extension (Public Inquiry)
To ask the Scottish Executive whether contributors to the public inquiry on the M74 northern extension will be able to update their evidence, given the reported new funding arrangements of up to £1 billion for the motorway. (S2O-1200)
The estimated cost of the M74 completion scheme has not changed. That has been reconfirmed to the public local inquiry.
Does that mean that the plans for the public-private partnership scheme have been dropped, as has been reported in the papers? If they have not and the cost is to rise to £1 billion, as has also been reported, will the objectors definitely have a chance to revise their submissions to the inquiry?
I understand why there may have been some confusion on first reading of the advertisement, and I would like to clarify the matter. The advert was a prior information notice, as required under European Union law, in relation to a possible PPP. I make it clear that no decision has been made on the method of procurement for the M74 project. The cost estimate has not changed, as I have just assured the chamber.
The advert included the option of a possible PPP that would involve only the completion of the M74 and a second option that would involve the completion of the M74 and taking on responsibility over a 30-year period for the operation and maintenance of approximately 100km of existing associated motorway. That was the reason for the inflated figure, as option 2 would involve a substantial additional element of contract. I hope that that clarifies the reason for the difference. Those options are only being investigated at the moment to ensure that we get the best possible value for money when we proceed with the scheme.
Does the minister agree that instead of reacting to rumours that have no substance, the Scottish Green Party would do better to accept and, indeed, to welcome the major economic benefits that the M74 northern extension will bring to the west of Scotland?
Clearly, the scheme will have very significant benefits—in safety terms, environmental terms and economic terms. That is why the scheme is so widely supported throughout Scotland and why the number of objections to it has been relatively small, in comparison with other projects of a similar scale and nature. Nevertheless, it is very important that any assessment of the scheme is carried out fairly and objectively. We are now in that phase of the process. It is right that people should be given the opportunity to state their case for and against the scheme. That will be done fairly, through the public local inquiry system.
Does the minister agree that although it is proper that legitimate objections are heard, delaying tactics by those with a political agenda to stop the motorway should not be allowed to delay further a project that is vital to the economy of the whole of Scotland?
Clearly, I would always deprecate delaying tactics by those with a political agenda.
Question 5 is withdrawn.
Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-Making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (Progress)
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in complying with the terms of the Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-Making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters. (S2O-1201)
The Scottish Executive is updating the regulations giving access to environmental information and is working towards giving non-governmental organisations access to the courts in environmental matters.
I thank the deputy minister for that answer. Does he agree that last week's welcome announcement on Crown Office modernisation was tarnished by the absence of any mention of extra funding for, or specialist training in, environmental matters? Given the proposals in the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Bill to give the Scottish Land Court a role in dealing with sites of special scientific interest, does he agree that one way to achieve the Executive's commitment to
"the establishment of environmental courts"
would be to expand the remit and role of the Land Court? When will we see some action on the pledges that the Executive made in this area in its partnership agreement?
Mark Ballard will see action in the area probably from early March, as that is when we expect to commence consultation on the environmental information orders that I referred to in my earlier response.
I am surprised by Mark Ballard's reference to the Crown Office, because the Crown Office and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency have recently commenced joint training events for prosecutors and SEPA lawyers. The aim is to strengthen the expertise that is available among environmentalists to ensure that more prosecutions can take place and that offences are properly prosecuted.
I do not recognise Mark Ballard's criticism of the system as a whole, but the complex inter-portfolio negotiations in relation to the establishment or otherwise of environmental courts will nonetheless proceed.
English as a Foreign Language (Promotion)
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to promote the learning of English as a foreign language as a reason to visit Scotland. (S2O-1172)
We recognise that learning English can be an important reason for students and other visitors to come to Scotland. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that we encourage and support that activity.
The promotion of the learning of English is part of the work of Education UK Scotland, which receives its core funding from the British Council and is supported by the Scottish Executive, the Scottish Further Education Funding Council and the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council. In addition, VisitScotland is currently working with Scottish English language teaching in consortium to identify opportunities to maximise the synergies between tourism and English-language teaching.
I thank the minister for that response. I advise him that in order to compete not only with America and the antipodes, but with Ireland, Malta and south of the border, we require information as to who is coming, why they are coming, how much they are spending and what markets are available to be targeted. Will he ensure that such a study is carried out either by his department or by some other organisation to ensure that we have the basis upon which to build a strategy?
I assure Mr MacAskill that a considerable amount of work is done to try to ensure that people are aware of what is available in Scotland in respect of the teaching of English. Scottish English language teaching in consortium, which goes by the acronym of SELTIC—that might appeal to some more than others—has been engaging with VisitScotland. For example, one of the SELTIC members recently had a familiarisation trip for a group of Italian tour operators. VisitScotland has put SELTIC in contact with Scottish Development International, because SDI has offices in a number of places where Education UK Scotland does not have a presence, to ensure that what is available is widely known and disseminated in many parts of the world.
Queen Mother's Hospital (National Services)
To ask the Scottish Executive what protection it will give to national services funded by the national services division, currently provided at the Queen Mother's hospital, in the event of implementation of the recommended closure of the hospital by Greater Glasgow NHS Board. (S2O-1173)
The national services division will be responding to the consultation on maternity services in Glasgow. I expect NHS Greater Glasgow to consider that and all other responses before it comes to a final decision.
Does the minister accept that the implementation of Greater Glasgow NHS Board's recommendation that the Queen Mother's hospital should close could have a major impact on the national services that are funded directly by the national services division on behalf of NHS Scotland, such as newborn screening, the Scottish extracorporeal membrane oxygenation service and, in particular, the pioneering work in medical and surgical genetics? Will he consider meeting me and the clinicians who run those services, with a view to listening to what they say about how the services are run and the impact of the closure of the Queen Mother's hospital?
I certainly intend to spend a lot of time over the next few weeks looking into the detail of all those issues and I would be pleased to take up Pauline McNeill's invitation to meet some of the clinicians from the Queen Mother's hospital. I assure the member that I am considering in great detail the matters that she raises in relation to the national services division—I recently spoke to someone who is very much involved in that. The division will give an honest account of any problems that it foresees as a result of the proposals and, as I said in my earlier answer, I expect Greater Glasgow NHS Board to take that matter into account.
Is the minister aware of the statement that Catriona Renfrew of Greater Glasgow NHS Board made the other day? She said that the Queen Mum's hospital would be closed in five years' time and would have to be demolished, but that the Southern general hospital would last for another 25 years. The minister said that he would meet clinicians from the Queen Mum's hospital. Does he agree with those clinicians—and with me—that it is disgraceful that Catriona Renfrew made such a statement three weeks before the consultation process is due to be completed? Will he now say that the whole consultation process is a sham? Will he intervene to end the process and ensure that Catriona Renfrew withdraws her statement? We have said all along that the consultation process is a sham. Will he admit that?
I am unaware of Catriona Renfrew's statement, so it would be inappropriate for me to comment on that. However, I will ask her about it when I next talk to her. The consultation is in its final stages, so I think that the appropriate thing to do is to let it run its course. I assure Sandra White and other members that I will examine all the issues in great detail before I come to a view on the matter.
Does the minister agree that it is deeply unfortunate that the area medical committee in Glasgow has chosen not to comment on the proposals that have been put forward by the Greater Glasgow NHS Board? In Glasgow and elsewhere in Scotland, clinicians need to accept that they have a responsibility to comment authoritatively on such matters and to provide clear medical advice. That is not happening in Glasgow, where various people are making competing comments. The profession must accept responsibility for some of the changes that are taking place.
In general terms, I agree with Des McNulty. Again, I do not know the specific circumstances around the area medical committee's decision not to comment. As I have said before in the chamber, one of the distinctive features of the maternity services controversy in the Greater Glasgow NHS Board area is the fact that the clinicians—and in many cases, the senior clinicians—are fundamentally divided. That makes the situation different from that of most of the other service changes in Scotland, where, on the whole, there is a consensus among clinicians.
Given the general dissatisfaction in communities throughout Scotland about the conduct and responsiveness of maternity services consultations, and given the specific allegations by some clinicians that Greater Glasgow NHS Board distorted or suppressed submissions to its consultation, does the minister share my grave concerns about consultations? Does he agree that all oral and written submissions to such consultations should be made public? Does he also agree that confidence has been lost in those consultations and that there should be a moratorium on all maternity services closures?
I do not think that it is right to generalise. There have, of course, been various consultations and it might be true to say that some have been handled better than others. I will consider the allegations about the fairness with which Greater Glasgow NHS Board has considered submissions. In general terms, I accept the principle of transparency and that people should be able to see the evidence that has been submitted. Notwithstanding people's concerns, the right thing to do now is to see the consultation through during the next four weeks or so. However, for the third time, I repeat that I will look in great detail at the matter and at all the points that members have raised.
State Aid (Caledonian MacBrayne)
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the revised state-aid guidelines published by the European Union on 17 January 2004, what steps, including stopping the tendering process, it now proposes to take in respect of the Caledonian MacBrayne ferry routes. (S2O-1184)
We are considering the revised guidelines, along with the related communication that the European Commission issued on 23 December. I intend to discuss with the Commission the implications of the new guidelines for the tendering of the CalMac network.
I ask the minister to consider the negative effect that the uncertainty and delay are having on people and investment. What immediate steps does he intend to take to accelerate the process?
As members know and as we have discussed previously, we have already made contact with the Commission in the context of the Altmark decision. I am anxious to discuss the matter with the Commission in the early part of 2004, which means making further representations to the Commission in the next few weeks to arrange the meeting. Ultimately, I am in the hands of the Commission on how soon the meeting will be, but I am anxious that it should take place shortly.
There is genuine concern about the issue among island communities and the 1,000 employees of Caledonian MacBrayne, who will be affected by the final decision on whether the tendering process will go ahead. Will the minister say whether it is the Scottish Executive's understanding that the 1992 maritime cabotage regulation, which is enshrined in Community law, requires the Executive to tender the CalMac routes? Does he agree that the revised state-aid guidelines on maritime transport do not clarify whether the Altmark judgment, which was recently handed down by the European Court of Justice, overrides the need to comply with the regulation? Will the minister try to clarify that issue once and for all on behalf of my constituents?
It has been suggested that the revised guidelines that were published on 17 January and to which Jim Mather's question refers give clarity on the issue. I will quote from the relevant section, which states:
"In the field of maritime cabotage, public service obligations (PSOs) may be imposed or public service contracts (PSCs) may be concluded for the services indicated in Article 4 of Regulation (EEC) No 3577/92",
which is the regulation to which George Lyon referred. The guidelines continue:
"For those services, PSOs and PSCs as well as their compensation must fulfil the conditions of that provision and the Treaty rules and procedures governing State aid, as interpreted by the Court of Justice."
That is it—that is the new guidance that we have from the Commission. Any reasonable person would recognise that we need further clarification before there is the prospect of bringing tendering to a halt.
Will the minister update me on what progress is being made with the new ferry linkspan in Oban, which is vital for the future of tourism in Oban and the Hebrides?
I appreciate the difficulties that there have been on that matter. I am anxious to ensure that local differences of view are brought to a conclusion soon. As I may yet have to rule statutorily on important issues, it would be wrong for me to go further than that at this stage. Suffice it to say that everyone involved would be pleased if there were local agreement.
Job Dispersal (Dumfries and Galloway)
To ask the Scottish Executive how many jobs have been dispersed to Dumfries and Galloway as a result of its job dispersal programme. (S2O-1162)
To date, no public sector jobs have been relocated to Dumfries and Galloway as a result of the Executive's job dispersal policy. We are committed to the policy of dispersing public sector jobs throughout Scotland. As the First Minister has assured the Parliament, we expect that Dumfries and Galloway will benefit from the policy when the time is right and when the opportunity allows.
I thank the minister for his answer, which at least has the virtue of being honest. Does he agree that members must sign up not only to the principle of the scheme, but to its implementation in practice? Will he give a commitment to the furtherance and continuance of the scheme and to spreading its benefits throughout the entirety of Scotland?
I am pleased that the Scottish National Party front bench is telling Fergus Ewing what to do on this matter. That is most encouraging.
We are absolutely committed to the policy. As someone who was born and brought up in East Kilbride, where the centre one tax office and the Overseas Development Administration were located, I am all too well aware of the impact that relocations can have and the difference that they can make to communities. We are working hard to ensure that all parts of Scotland benefit, but it is down to the decision on the day, which is about the particular organisation, the particular location, the premises that are available and the social and economic impacts. Those are all critical to the discussion. However, Alasdair Morgan can rest assured that the Executive remains absolutely committed to its relocation policy.
Does the minister share my concern that the way in which consultants who are examining possible relocations apply the Executive's criteria militates against many parts of Scotland, including Dumfries and Galloway? Will he undertake to review the criteria and the operation of the Executive's relocation policy in order to ensure that all parts of Scotland benefit?
The policy is always under review for fine-tuning purposes. I am aware that Dr Elaine Murray met Tavish Scott, my deputy, to discuss those matters. When Tavish Scott met the local council, the health board and the local enterprise company, some of those issues were raised, so the point is well made. However, these are difficult decisions. There is competition—quite correctly—from around Scotland for the relocations and we need to be as scientific and proper about them as we can. The policy is always under review, but we must stick to guidelines that will allow ministers to make proper decisions.
Given the difficulty that the Executive seems to have in relocating jobs to Dumfries and Galloway, does the minister agree that there would be no better site for the new Scottish transport agency than Stranraer, in my constituency? Stranraer is the home of the second busiest port in the United Kingdom and is the British gateway to and from Northern Ireland.
As Alex Fergusson would expect, I cannot comment on those matters, as a detailed process has to be carried out. However, many parts of Scotland have benefited, and many parts of Scotland will benefit, from relocation policy decisions.
ScotRail (Edinburgh Park Station)
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to increase the number of services stopping at Edinburgh Park station under the new ScotRail franchise. (S2O-1174)
The specification of the ScotRail franchise is based on the current level of rail services in Scotland. That does not in anyway prevent improvements from being introduced in due course and the Scottish Executive has ambitious plans to support the development of new and improved services.
Will the minister look favourably on any proposals from the City of Edinburgh Council or franchisees to include Edinburgh Park station as a stop on the Edinburgh to Glasgow service, which could result in a modal shift of thousands of passengers from road to rail?
Certainly. It is appropriate that new proposals come from such organisations, whether on the opening of a new station, the opening of a new section of line or an improved frequency of service. On proposals to stop more frequently at a new station, such as Edinburgh Park, the involvement of the local authority is always welcome and the involvement of ScotRail, or the subsequent franchisee, would also be important. The appropriate Scottish transport appraisal guidance process has to be gone through and developed. If partners wish to support the sort of improvements that Margaret Smith wishes to see at Edinburgh Park, I would be pleased to consider the proposals in due course, but I am sure that all members will welcome the fact that Edinburgh Park, which is a brand-new station of quality, is serving the network in Scotland.
Dental Services (Highlands)
To ask the Scottish Executive what specific action it is taking with regard to issues facing national health service dentistry in the Highlands. (S2O-1206)
Responsibility for the overall provision of NHS dental services in Highland rests with Highland Primary Care NHS Trust. However, I announced on 20 November a number of further measures to support NHS dentistry in Scotland, including Highland, which, as the member will know, is a specially designated area.
I understand that the minister will be visiting Inverness as part of the consultation process on dentistry. I am sure that, when he does, he will be made aware of the acute situation facing all those who cannot register with an NHS dentist or afford a private dentist. Following the conclusion of the consultation process, will he give a commitment that all my constituents will have access to an NHS dentist?
When I spoke at the first of the consultation meetings in Stirling earlier this week, I made it clear to the members of the dental profession who attended that we had launched the consultation because we knew that there were difficulties with access, not only in remote and rural parts of Scotland, but in urban Scotland. We also knew that there was dissatisfaction among members of the profession and the allied health professionals who support them and that there was increasing evidence of a requirement for modernisation and redesign. I made it clear that, in return for addressing those issues, we would expect a substantial increase in the commitment to NHS dentistry. That will apply in Highland just as much as in Stirling.
At present, those people who cannot afford a private dentist and who require emergency treatment have to phone up an emergency helpline first thing in the morning. Sometimes they are taken, sometimes they are told to ring back the next day. If they are taken, they are advised by the dentists that only temporary repairs can be done, which means that they have to go back time and again. Surely emergency treatment should be the full treatment. The present situation is not only unfair to the patients, but a false economy.
We have a clear commitment to improving the overall level of service in dentistry in the NHS. That is why, in recent weeks, I announced the provision of a substantial amount of money to supplement emergency dental services in Scotland. I am sure that constituents in Mr Ewing's area will benefit as much as constituents in any other area.
I appreciate the measures that the minister has already announced to improve NHS dental services in the Highlands, but does he agree that there are still serious worries about the long-term future for NHS health care, particularly in Caithness? What contact has he had with Highland Primary Care NHS Trust to discuss some of its innovative ideas for addressing the problem, including the establishment of a think-tank in Caithness? Will he visit the think-tank as part of the consultation procedure?
I am more than happy to visit Caithness to speak to that think-tank. Highland Primary Care NHS Trust has permission for 32 salaried dentist posts, seven of which are vacant—although I am pleased to say that three of those posts have recently been filled.
We are aware of increasing difficulties in the provision of NHS dentistry. That is why we have launched the consultation and given the commitment that we are interested in addressing all those issues. That is also why we have made it perfectly clear to members of the profession that we expect them to increase substantially their commitment to the NHS.
Can the minister confirm that he will be reviewing the structure of the golden-hello package to make it more effective in attracting NHS dentists to all areas of need?
I can confirm that such matters are under constant review. We introduced the measures in question in order to effect improvements in the service, as far as that is possible. If at any time we feel that the impact is not being felt as widely as we would like it to be, of course we will review that to try to improve the situation.
Schools (Vending Machines)
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports the removal from schools of all vending machines selling fizzy drinks. (S2O-1155)
As part of the implementation of "Hungry for Success", the recent report of the expert panel on school meals, we expect all schools to end the active promotion or advertising of fizzy, sugary soft drinks within the dining room before December 2004 for primary and special schools and December 2006 for secondaries.
That was a bit of a contradictory answer. We know the damage to health that the corn syrup in those drinks causes, so why are we allowing schools still to sell them? Schools are selling young people bad health. Is the real issue the fact that schools need the money from Coca-Cola? [Interruption.]
Order.
Is it right that our young people should be expected to fill a funding gap in education one Pepsi at a time? I ask the Executive to consider banning the vending machines from schools altogether.
As I just explained, there is a gradual process of ending the promotion and advertising of fizzy, sugary soft drinks. The Scottish Executive was recently instrumental in encouraging Coca-Cola to remove its name from vending machines. As part of our implementation of the recommendations of the expert panel on school meals, we are encouraging schools to make fresh, chilled drinking water available for free in school dining halls, so the direction in which we are going is the one that Frances Curran suggests.
As to resources, Frances Curran cannot have been listening during the recent debate in which we made it clear that we are putting substantial resources into the expert panel's recommendations: £12 million this year; £21 million next year; and £24 million in the financial year after that. She should at least acknowledge that the Executive is putting a lot of money into school meals, because we are determined that the expert panel's recommendations will be followed through.