SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE
General Questions
Crofting Inquiry Report (Consultation)
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to further consult with crofters over the findings of the Shucksmith report before it brings forward legislation. (S3O-3518)
The Scottish Government will publish its response to the Shucksmith report after the summer recess and will welcome debate on its conclusions. If legislation is to be brought forward, the Government will have a full public consultation on a draft bill before its introduction.
I am sure that the minister is aware that most of the Shucksmith report has been broadly welcomed throughout the crofting communities. There is no doubt about that, although several recommendations require more detailed scrutiny. When and how will that be brought about?
The Shucksmith report is complex and its arguments and thinking are dense. It has been broadly welcomed, as John Farquhar Munro said. I will use a variety of mechanisms to help to devise the Government's response. If John Farquhar Munro has views on the matter, I would be happy to hear from him; I would be happy to hear from any member and people in the crofting communities or elsewhere. On the formal side, yesterday I had the first of several meetings with the full Crofters Commission to discuss its perspective. I will also meet other crofters' interests before I publish our response after the summer recess.
One of the failings that is discussed in the Shucksmith report is the Crofters Commission's inability to regulate and develop crofting that is suited to local conditions and tenure balance. Does the minister agree that crofters being elected to local crofting boards could make a much better job in places as different as Skye, Lochalsh, Caithness and Shetland?
The part of the Shucksmith report that reflects on the need for local democracy and local accountability is important. On land tenure, Rob Gibson is right to point out that, in Shetland for example, a great deal more combinations of crofts will be worked and there will probably be more owner occupancy. The principle of local democracy and accountability is correct; the big issue is how we reflect it in any detailed legislation that we introduce.
The minister will know that, as the detail of the Shucksmith report is fully appreciated throughout the crofting counties, questions are beginning to arise about the effect of some of its recommendations on the values of current assets. I am talking not about speculators but about ordinary crofters. Would there be merit in an economic appraisal of some of the recommendations? Would the minister welcome such an appraisal and might he consider funding or helping to support it through an appropriate agency as time elapses?
That is a helpful and positive suggestion. I am positive about it and would like to find out how we could allow an economic assessment to take place. I will be happy to discuss it with Peter Peacock and I shall discuss it with officials.
Edinburgh Trams
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had recently with the City of Edinburgh Council and TIE Ltd regarding the financing of the Edinburgh trams project. (S3O-3473)
No recent discussions have taken place with the City of Edinburgh Council regarding the financing of the Edinburgh trams project other than normal discussions concerning the administration of the Scottish Government's £500 million contribution to the project.
Is the minister aware that the revised estimated cost of phases 1a and 1b of the trams project is now £599 million? The Scottish Government has committed £500 million and the City of Edinburgh Council has committed £45 million, so there is a £54 million shortfall that has still to be funded. Will the minister advise us whether the Scottish National Party run council in Edinburgh is fully committed to meeting that shortfall from its resources and to building both those phases, and whether there have been discussions with the Government or any public agency on how it might be funded?
As David McLetchie will be aware, we committed to provide £500 million—capped at £500 million; no more than £500 million—for phase 1a. As an incentive to effective financial management, we agreed that, should our contribution to phase 1a need to be less than £500 million the change may be used for phase 1b.
There is obviously potential for the business community to play a part in assisting financially. Will the minister agree to work with the council and TIE to get funding in place from that direction, not only for phase 1a but for further tram developments in the capital?
I believe that the business community is very willing to engage, particularly in relation to phase 1b. It will of course be a matter for the City of Edinburgh Council, whose project it is, rather than for the Government. However, if it is felt that we can make a useful contribution to facilitating funding from the business community, we stand ready to assist.
Financial Services Sector (Support)
To ask the Scottish Government what advice and support it is providing to the financial services sector in Scotland, in light of global economic circumstances. (S3O-3498)
We are fortunate in Scotland to have the Financial Services Advisory Board—FiSAB—the pioneering collaboration between the Scottish Government and the wider public sector, the trade unions, Universities Scotland and the financial services industry, as they work in partnership to ensure the continued success of this hugely important industry.
I thank the minister for that comprehensive answer. The minister is aware of the setback that the financial services sector in Cumbernauld suffered, with Barclaycard's announcement about the future of the Goldfish contact centre in the town. Can the minister offer any update as to the reports that potential buyers for the site have been in discussion with Scottish Enterprise? Can the minister assure us that any Government moneys that are put towards securing a new operator for the site will, as far as possible, come with a long-term commitment to the Cumbernauld area?
I agree with Jamie Hepburn that the announcement was a significant blow to staff and to Cumbernauld, and I fully appreciate the impact that it will have on employees, their families and the wider community of Cumbernauld. SDI officials and I have remained in the closest possible contact with Barclaycard since the announcement of the consultation on the Cumbernauld centre. I last spoke with representatives of the company on 14 May, and I have been in regular contact with the SDI team ever since. Its next meeting with the company is on 2 June. On 16 June, I will attend a meeting with stakeholders including Barclaycard management, the works council, the partnership action for continuing employment—PACE—team and the local authority to decide how to take matters forward.
Outdoor Education
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made towards providing a guarantee of five days' outdoor education for every school pupil. (S3O-3524)
The draft experiences and outcomes for curriculum for excellence, which have been released over the course of this school year, provide rich opportunities for schools to use outdoor education and outdoor learning to achieve the outcomes that are sought. Our new framework for learning and teaching, "Building the Curriculum 3: A framework for learning and teaching", which I will launch on 10 June, will also provide an opportunity for outdoor education and learning to flourish.
The minister has once again failed to address how that will be funded. In an answer to my colleague Jeremy Purvis, Maureen Watt suggested that funding would come out of the omnipotent concordat and its magic purse, through which all will be provided by local councils. That is yet another example of the fact that the only physical activity that the Government encourages is passing the buck. That is not good enough. The SNP manifesto was very clear on the guarantee and very specific on outdoor education.
We need to have a question, Mr Smith.
I am coming to it. The manifesto said:
Question please, Mr Smith.
Will the minister tell us exactly where that £250,000 has been allocated this year? How many additional children does she expect to benefit from five days' subsidised outdoor education as a result?
As I said, we expect more children to experience more outdoor education opportunities. At the summit of stakeholders and interest groups on 5 March, they were clear that they expected that to be delivered through curriculum for excellence, which is indeed part of the historic concordat that we have with local government. The local government settlement, which is part of the historic concordat, will fund not just that education provision but many other education policies from the SNP. I am more than happy to make the same offer to Iain Smith—if he wishes to pursue his interest in the issue—as the Minister for Schools and Skills made to the Conservatives, who have proposed a constructive policy in this area.
Will the cabinet secretary consider our proposal of £10 million of funding, which would come jointly from public funds and from philanthropic and business interests?
I am aware of the member's proposals, and I understand that the Minister for Schools and Skills is meeting Elizabeth Smith in June to discuss them. That perhaps provides the opportunity to take the matter forward.
In how many schools that were built between 1999 and 2007 are opportunities to use outdoor areas after school limited by the expense of the facilities?
Regrettably, public-private partnership provision has brought a reduction in school playing fields. We are determined to resolve that under our proposals to ensure that young people have outdoor learning experiences at their own schools. I am delighted to say that, with the launch of "Building the Curriculum 3", we are confident that more schools will take the opportunity to have outdoor education, outdoor classrooms and outdoor learning. Outdoor education is not just about residential provision; it also takes place in schools. The excess private profit that led to some of the concerns that Ian McKee has expressed will be addressed by the SNP Government.
Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning (Meetings)
To ask the Scottish Executive when the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning last met Glasgow City Council and what issues were discussed. (S3O-3549)
I last met representatives of Glasgow City Council on Thursday 6 May 2008, when a number of education and skills matters were discussed.
When the minister met those Glasgow City Council representatives, did she discuss with them the huge overrepresentation of young people with disabilities among people who are not in employment, education or training? That was highlighted in the aiming high for disabled children programme, which brought £34 million to the Scottish Executive's coffers, as the minister will recall.
Glasgow City Council is responsible for providing education in its authority area. Our national skills strategy, the first-ever skills strategy for Scotland, addresses the needs of young people who require more opportunity to develop their skills. The situation of young people with disabilities is, as Johann Lamont said, clearly a matter for serious representation under that strategy. I am planning to meet the leader of Glasgow City Council in the next few weeks, and I will certainly discuss her concerns with him.
The cabinet secretary will be aware that nearly 10,000 children and young people in Glasgow have English as an additional language, which I think is more than 12 per cent of the total pupil population. Is the cabinet secretary aware of the proposal to redeploy resources to support those young people? Is the cabinet secretary aware of the implications of legislation that was passed by the Parliament in the previous session for the requirement for those resources? Will the cabinet secretary discuss with Glasgow City Council the impact of that redeployment on schools such as Drumchapel high school, Hillhead high school, Shawlands academy and St Roch's secondary school?
I am fully aware of those concerns, which I discussed with Gordon Matheson on 6 May. The provisions in the act to which Patrick Harvie referred—the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004—make specific mention of children and young people who have additional learning support needs in respect of English language provision. I am concerned about that issue, which I have raised with Glasgow City Council. It is vital that we provide such support—the increase in the number of pupils who require such provision is a matter of concern. We must ensure that the necessary resources are put in place to meet that requirement. I have discussed the issue with Gordon Matheson and I hope to discuss it again when I meet Glasgow City Council in June.
Coeval Building
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking with regard to the listing of the Coeval building in Prestonpans. (S3O-3544)
Under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997, Scottish ministers have a statutory duty to consider for protection buildings of special architectural and historical interest. That duty is, of course, carried out by Historic Scotland on Scottish ministers' behalf.
Prestonpans has a proud industrial history, which involves mines, potteries, soap works and—of course—the salt pans, but little remains of that history's physical manifestations. Fowler's brewery's old headquarters is the sole remaining historical industrial building in the town. It is a strange kind of inverse parochialism that says that because the building is only of local historical interest, it is not worthy of being listed.
The building in question was first considered for listing in 1996, during the review of the list for the burgh, when it was not found to satisfy the criteria for inclusion on the statutory lists. The listing of the building was considered again, following a further request in October 2006. The same conclusion was reached. The most recent review concluded in May 2008, when Historic Scotland once again found that the case for listing was insufficient, even were the council not considering a planning application for the site.
Fuel Costs (South of Scotland)
To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance it will make available for drivers in the south of Scotland facing rising fuel costs. (S3O-3515)
We are pressing the United Kingdom Government to introduce a fuel duty regulator in order to achieve a sustainable long-term solution to fuel costs for businesses and communities.
I thank the minister for his long answer. People in rural areas such as the south of Scotland need real action now. The Highlands and Islands, which last night's members' business debate focused on, is not the only part of the country that is affected. Vast areas of the south of Scotland are in difficulty. Have the minister's deliberations with the UK Government involved consideration of schemes such as the rural discount scheme in France, which the UK Government agreed to?
My colleagues in the Westminster Parliament have tabled an amendment to the UK Finance Bill, which seeks the establishment of a fuel duty regulator. I hope that it will have the whole-hearted and committed support of all members of that House who pretend to—or who perhaps do—represent Scottish interests.
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