SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE
Fife Schools
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will meet the request made by Fife Council to provide extra money to tackle its estimated £70 million repair costs for Fife schools. (S1O-2054)
We have received no such request from Fife Council.
In that case, does the minister agree that Councillor Helen Law has asked the Scottish Parliament to discuss getting extra resources from the Scottish Executive?
I was not quite sure what that question was all about, but I assure Tricia Marwick that I always welcome school parties to the Parliament. I also inform her that what this Parliament discusses is its business and nothing to do with me.
I also welcome the pupils and teachers of Auchmuty High, the school that I was fortunate enough to attend in the 1970s.
I congratulate Fife Council on its building programme. It is good to hear a member of this Parliament support a local authority rather than trying to usurp its functions as the nationalists always want to do.
Unfortunately, the question was about Fife.
Fraserburgh Harbour Commissioners
To ask the Scottish Executive what changes it proposes to make to the constitution and structure of Fraserburgh Harbour Commissioners and what the reasons are for any such changes. (S1O-2049)
Fraserburgh Harbour Commissioners is considering its response to the guidelines that we published in January. The guidance reflects the principles of openness and accountability that we wish to see applied in all trust port matters.
Does the minister agree that Fraserburgh Harbour Commissioners has a fine record over many decades—indeed, centuries—of renewing the port facilities to meet the changing needs of the port users? A good example of that is the new ship lift that will be opening shortly.
I have visited the Broch and I acknowledge the excellent work of Fraserburgh Harbour Commissioners. I know that Alex Salmond, as the local MSP, takes a strong interest in the board's work.
On that point, will the minister confirm that this Administration will have absolutely nothing to do with the privatisation proposals of the previous Conservative Government, which would have sacrificed and jeopardised the success of both Fraserburgh and Peterhead?
I acknowledge the success of both those important Scottish fishing ports.
Crime
To ask the Scottish Executive what research it is currently undertaking into levels of crime against elderly people. (S1O-2066)
The Scottish crime survey 2000, which has been carried out this year on behalf of the Scottish Executive, will provide detailed information on the level and nature of crime experienced by older people in Scotland.
I thank the minister for his answer.
Direct representations have not been made to me, but we will publish the results of the research that I mentioned in, I believe, August this year—at the latest, they will be published in the autumn. That information will be freely available to all relevant groups.
Will the minister confirm that that research will include research into the offences committed by those aged 16 and 17 against the elderly section of the population, given his intention to take those youngsters out of the criminal justice system altogether?
It is disgraceful that appalling scaremongering of that sort is used time and again in a way that I can describe only as either wilfully malicious or deeply ignorant. The fact of the matter is that we will consult on how to treat that group. Mr Aitken will have the opportunity to express his entirely unhelpful opinions in the course of that consultation.
Has there been an improvement in police response times since September 1999, when I raised a question following an incident when it took one and half hours to respond to the mugging of an elderly person in Glasgow?
I do not have to hand the information that Mr Martin seeks. I will look into the situation and will write to him. I hope that that will answer his question.
National Lottery Funding
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-4663 by Mr Sam Galbraith on 31 May 2000, what measures it is taking to ensure that all constituencies receive more even distribution of lottery funding in future. (S1O-2041)
We are monitoring the distribution of lottery funds and, with the distributors, we are addressing measures to encourage applications from areas of social and economic need.
Given that eight out of the nine constituencies in the north-east received less than the average sum of £1 million out of the total of £80 million in Scotland, and that Aberdeen South, which has significant pockets of disadvantage, received the lowest award of all, £38,500, does the minister accept that it can be harder for smaller charities and for charities operating in poorer areas to compete, that steps need to be taken to address that and that deprived areas should be getting more than their fair share of money, not less?
There is certainly a problem with the distribution of lottery funding to deprived areas. The National Lottery Act 1998 and the subsequent directions seek to address that matter. They allow the distributors to seek applications from areas for the first time, and the distributors have to fulfil their obligation to social inclusion. There is already evidence that that is having an effect, which I hope will continue so that we can redress what is an unfair balance.
Yes, but does the minister recall his opposition during the progress of the Tories' national lottery legislation and his opposing any such directions at the time? What brings him to a changed conclusion today?
Being an old-fashioned, hardened Presbyterian, I was totally opposed to any state form of gambling; the Tory party was much in favour of gambling organised by the state. It was successful, and I accept the reality—my job is to ensure that it works.
Opencast Mining
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the implementation of national planning policy guideline 16, in particular the 500 m cordon sanitaire between an opencast working face and neighbouring communities, is sufficient protection to ensure public safety. (S1O-2074)
NPPG 16 sets a robust planning policy framework for opencast coal developments. Planning authorities have scope within the guidelines to consider projects on their merits. Complying with that and with other regulations should be sufficient to ensure public safety.
In the light of a landslip that occurred at Garleffan opencast site in Ayrshire, and which travelled in excess of 500 m, and in the light of East Ayrshire Council's proposal to reduce rather than extend its exclusion zone between opencast workings and communities, in order to come into line with NPPG 16, is the minister satisfied that NPPG 16 is still protecting coalfield communities, or will she commit to extending exclusion zones to safeguard our citizens?
It is the job of authorities, in interpreting NPPG 16, to work out the local characteristics and to make their interpretation of safety, location and topography factors.
That is not what they are saying.
NPPG 16 on its own is not the full story. The regulations and the monitoring of sites by the Health and Safety Executive are a critical part of ensuring safety, both for communities and for the work force at opencast mines and similar sites.
The minister will be aware of my keen interest in the matter, and will know that I wrote to her and to the HSE about the Garleffan landslip.
The points that Cathy Jamieson raises are extremely relevant. I am aware of the tragic accident that occurred in her area. I know that Strathclyde police and the Health and Safety Executive are examining the matter. It is important that the subsequent report and information are acted upon.
Civil Liberties
To ask the Scottish Executive what safeguards for civil liberties are contained in the Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Scotland) Bill. (S1O-2092)
The Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Scotland) Bill will, for the first time, provide statutory regulation for the use of surveillance techniques by public authorities in Scotland, to ensure compliance with the European convention on human rights. The bill will safeguard civil liberties in that respect. The use of that surveillance will be overseen by the chief surveillance commissioner, who will be a senior member of the judiciary.
Will the minister lodge amendments to the bill to address the civil liberties issues arising from its wording, which means that ministers may specify any purpose for surveillance, that conduct by a large number of persons in pursuit of a common purpose may be a serious crime, and that the rights of third parties may be caught up in surveillance operations?
No. We will not lodge any such amendments. The bill does not give powers to ministers in the way that Donald Gorrie is suggesting. Any purposes that are specified by ministers would have to be compatible with the European convention on human rights, and would have to come before the Parliament on an affirmative resolution.
As the Deputy Minister for Justice is aware, a person has no right to know whether they have been under surveillance, even if they are as clean as a whistle. That issue was raised at stage 1. I refer the minister and the Parliament to today's business bulletin—this is a plug. On page 25, my substantial and comprehensive amendment seeks to redress that imbalance. Given that that amendment has cross-party support, as he is aware, will he now support my amendment in principle?
I have not yet had the opportunity to read Christine Grahame's substantial amendment. However, I shall do so with interest. As she knows, at stage 2, I undertook to discuss directly with members of all parties the possibility of amending the legislation as proposed, to take account of those concerns. At that time, I indicated that I was willing to enter into those discussions, but I am now pessimistic about the possibility of finding a way forward that will satisfy all the concerns.
Countryside Premium
To ask the Scottish Executive how many farmers affected by the double payment situation in relation to the countryside premium scheme have applied for compensation. (S1O-2053)
One.
I would like to point out to the Parliament that it is not me. [Laughter.]
I share the disappointment about the fact that the number of applications for compensation has not been greater. I announced the compensation twice in the chamber and we referred to it clearly in our statement to the National Farmers Union. I also gather, from its regular dissemination of information, that the union was aware of the compensation. I have made it clear to the many members of this Parliament who have farming interests that we have been prepared to pay compensation. That is why there has been real disappointment at the low number of farmers who have applied for compensation so far.
In view of the advent of modulation, will the minister relax the criteria for qualification for the countryside premium scheme?
That is not within my powers. I do not think that there is any need for that, as it is quite clear that what is intended by the regulations under which the scheme is set is that, if someone opts out and takes the compensation, for the purposes of the environmental scheme, they are not allowed to receive a second payment—especially in these cases—for the sheep quota that has been frozen as a consequence. It would be illogical for someone to receive payments under the sheep quota as well as the compensation. There is no logic in saying that someone should receive both payments.
Gaelic
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to bring forward within the next 12 months a bill to provide secure status for Gaelic. (S1O-2044)
There is no such plan for the forthcoming year, but we are aiming to secure the future of the language through our programme of support for Gaelic.
The provision of secure status was a manifesto commitment of the Labour party, the Liberals and, indeed, of the SNP. Given that, perhaps I should simply ask the famous question: why not?
Mr Russell is right—the Executive has committed itself to working towards secure status for Gaelic. He will recall that significant steps have been taken, for example, in education. I can cite the example of the Standards in Scotland's Schools etc Bill, which requires education authorities to report on their plans for provision for Gaelic in their annual improvement objectives. That statutory provision will help to improve the situation. That is one example, but I could cite many more.
The minister will be well aware that a cross-party group on Gaelic has been established and has received formal approval. Will he indicate his support for that welcome initiative by attending the group's inaugural meeting? I am assured that the occasion will be celebrated by the dispensing of generous measures of a well-known Highland elixir.
Of course I welcome the establishment of the cross-party group on Gaelic, and I am delighted that Mr Munro has confirmed that it has been formally recognised by Parliament. I congratulate Maureen Macmillan, who was the prime mover in that initiative and who has been installed as convener of the group.
I must remind the minister that this is an alcohol-free chamber. [Laughter.]
Does the minister acknowledge—in the context of achieving secure status for Gaelic—that Gaelic-medium education is the most important means of securing the future of Gaelic? Will he ensure that Gaelic-medium education is made a national priority in education, and will he take steps to address the shortfall in teachers who are trained in Gaelic-medium education?
Lewis Macdonald raises two important points. As my colleague knows, a consultation is under way on national priorities, which ends in August. Those priorities will be presented to Parliament. I am very hopeful that Gaelic will be regarded as a national priority in the new system of national priorities.
Can we have an explanation from the minister—along with all his fine words—as to why he and the Lib-Lab Government disgracefully voted as they did on that matter? All but two Liberal and Labour members voted with the Executive.
I remind Mrs Ewing that we voted against the SNP amendment on the matter because—as was ably demonstrated by Peter Peacock—the amendment was not competent.
Children's Health
To ask the Scottish Executive how it is promoting better children's health, particularly in relation to preventing heart disease in later life. (S1O-2037)
Child health and the prevention of heart disease are two of our top health priorities. This autumn we will launch major national health demonstration projects in both those areas, backed by a total of £9 million over three years. This week, I announced the creation of a new national child health support group to help drive and co-ordinate a wide range of efforts in children's health.
I am pleased to hear that response on a vital issue. Will the minister join me in commending the British Heart Foundation on its excellent poster campaign, which is helping to raise awareness of the issue? Does she agree that a hallmark of the Executive's approach to tackling ill health and child poverty has been its ability to cut across departmental barriers? Does she further agree that a good example of interdepartmental working is the positive promotion of play as a way of improving the health and well-being of Scotland's children?
I agree with Elaine Smith's important points about the future health of our children. I was pleased to join the British Heart Foundation last month for the launch of the "Get Kids on the Go" pack, which raises precisely that issue. We must work together to ensure that our children take more exercise as a normal part of their lives, and that families build exercise into their lives. Otherwise, sadly, we are storing up enormous problems—particularly in relation to heart disease—for the future. We will continue to work together across the Executive, considering what can be done to encourage play and physical activity, involving sportscotland, schools and other bodies, to ensure that we make an impact on heart disease in the years to come.
Many members want to ask questions on this point. If exchanges are kept short, we should be able to fit quite a few in.
I was pleased to hear the minister mention the importance of healthy lifestyles for children in the battle against future heart disease. Will she tell the Parliament, as well as local authorities around the country, how much of the £9 million that she just mentioned will be available to reverse the cuts that hard-pressed local authorities continually have to make to leisure and sports facilities?
The £9 million that I mentioned is part of a total of £15 million, which the Executive is allocating to four national health demonstration projects. The essence of those health demonstration projects is that they involve a multi-agency approach, bringing together health boards, local authorities and the voluntary sector to make an impact on the health of our people. I am delighted that local authorities have become involved in all those projects, and we are investing in them.
The last time—indeed the only time—I was fit was when I was at school, because I had to play hockey and tennis, and even, on one memorable occasion, run a relay race. Is not it a matter for huge concern that Susan Deacon's colleagues in the Executive are content with such variable provision of sports and athletic activities in our primary and secondary schools?
I am still trying to collect my thoughts; I am reeling from the image of Annabel Goldie running in the school relay race. I agree with her that exercise among children in our schools is important. This Executive, more than any other previous Administration, is working together to ensure that exercise is developed in our schools and elsewhere. Later this year, we will be coming together across ministerial and departmental boundaries to take forward the work of the national physical activity task force. We are already working together on health-promoting activities in schools, and we will continue to work together in that way. I do not know how much clearer I can be on that point.
Does Susan Deacon agree that children's health might be better if the Scottish Executive had not underspent last year's national health service budget by £135 million, but transferred only £101 million of the underspend to this year's budget, resulting in a loss of £34 million, which could and should have been invested in our national health service, instead of being spent elsewhere by Jack the lad?
I thank Dennis Canavan for giving me the opportunity to put the facts of the matter on the record. Fact 1: almost half a billion pounds more is being spent on health this year than was spent last year. Fact 2: that record level of investment is being targeted to the right areas, with more staff and more investment in hospitals and community health services to make an impact on the health of our people. Fact 3: a sum of approximately £135 million has been carried forward from last year's health budget into the current financial year, out of a budget of some £5 billion. Fact 4: more than—
Answer the question.
If Andrew Wilson cares to listen, he might learn something. Fact 4: more than £100 million—[Interruption.]
Order. Let us hear the answer.
More than £100 million of that sum carries forward directly into the health budget, because it represents continuing areas of spend, such as capital projects that span from one year to the next.
I suspect that that argument will continue with question 10.
National Health Service
To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to ensure that the highest standards of clinical care are available in all parts of the NHS throughout Scotland. (S1O-2088)
The Scottish Executive works closely with the NHS and with the medical profession to ensure that the highest standards of clinical care are provided in the NHS in Scotland. The new system of clinical governance in the NHS in Scotland, the creation of the Clinical Standards Board for Scotland, the Health Technology Board for Scotland, the work of the Scottish intercollegiate guidelines network, and the Clinical Resource and Audit Group, which is headed by the chief medical officer, are all examples of work that contributes towards driving up quality. I intend to publish a full report on Scotland's leading-edge work on clinical quality later in the year.
I welcome the recent developments in clinical governance, which should lead to the early identification of any problems that arise with standards of clinical care. I also welcome the continuing work of the Clinical Standards Board for Scotland, which I recently visited to find out the way in which it is systematically auditing standards of care throughout Scotland. Is it possible for those important new initiatives to be widely publicised so that public confidence is enhanced? People should understand that there is a distinctive Scottish agenda on these important matters.
Malcolm Chisholm raises some important points. In the light of some of the cases that have been reported in the media in recent weeks, his points are also timely. The Clinical Standards Board has been one of the major developments in recent months to put in place arrangements that are right for the health service and right for the medical profession in Scotland—it will ensure that the highest possible standards are developed in our health care system. The clinical governance arrangements that NHS trusts have been bound to follow since April last year are designed to achieve the same thing.
In view of the fact that the length of time that people have to wait for surgery depends on their health board area, does the minister agree that health service delivery by postcode is unacceptable? The time that people have to wait for surgery should not depend on where they live. Is it not high time that the minister took steps to rectify the situation?
It is precisely because we believe that it is important to reduce waiting times and the inequity of waiting times across the country that we initiated the work that I announced in this chamber last December to put in place national maximum waiting times for the three clinical priorities of cancer, coronary heart disease and mental health. One of the priorities that has been identified for the £60 million extra that has been allocated to health boards over the past couple of months has been the reduction of waiting times. Yesterday, I attended a major NHS conference. Much of the discussion, and many of the comments that I made, concerned the importance of linking reform in the delivery of service with the record levels of investment to ensure that waiting times are reduced.
How can clinical standards be raised in Scotland when the man who invented keyhole surgery cannot even get a reply to his letters, let alone the recognition that would allow advances in technology in that field? A leading consultant has today stated that, due to your funding cuts, cancer patients in Tayside are dying more quickly than would be expected.
The cuts are not mine; they are the minister's.
In an earlier reply, I set out very clearly the record increases in funding that are taking place in the health budget. It is important to note that one of the priority areas for that additional investment is cancer care, and that includes £13.5 million specifically for much-needed cancer equipment. We will continue to invest in that as a priority area, we will continue to improve services and we will continue to drive up clinical standards, in partnership with the medical profession.
I fully accept that more than £100 million will automatically carry over into this year's NHS budget and will be available to health boards and health trusts to spend on improving health care standards across Scotland. However, will the minister assure me that any remaining part of that carry-over that comes under the direct control of the Executive will also be reallocated to initiatives to improve health standards? In particular, I make a plea for some of it to be allocated to Tayside, to help with the necessary shift from acute to primary sector care, which will require time and additional funding for both trusts in the Tayside area.
I am pleased to repeat the point that I made earlier and that my colleague Jack McConnell made on several occasions yesterday—the contingency fund that has been established within the Executive will be directed towards priority areas. Those may include health-specific issues and will, I am sure, include a range of cross-cutting priorities, such as public health, social inclusion, homelessness and other areas in which we work together across the Executive.
Will the minister give us an absolute assurance that age discrimination plays no part—and should play no part—in clinical decisions concerning patients? Will she dissociate herself completely from the remarks of those doctors who claim to make clinical decisions based on age?
I have already dissociated myself from the remarks made at this week's British Medical Association conference by one doctor, who argued that decisions on clinical care should be taken solely on the ground of age. I am pleased to say that the BMA overwhelmingly rejected that view.
Road Traffic Accidents
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to carry out any research on a comparison of urban and rural risk factors for road traffic accidents. (S1O-2096)
At present, the Scottish Executive has no plans to conduct such research. The Executive's transport research programme is reviewed regularly and includes topics such as tourist road accidents in rural Scotland and evaluation of Scottish home zones.
Does the minister agree that although urban areas may have more obvious problems with speeding traffic—as is the case in my constituency at Cornton in Stirling—there are also real needs in rural communities, where narrow bridges, heavy forestry vehicles and a lack of footpaths can make rural schools, such as Stratheyre Primary School, needy candidates for funding from the safer routes to school initiative?
I agree that it is appropriate that local authorities should identify their priorities and survey their local circumstances. Last month, I announced that Stirling Council will receive £86,000 from the safer routes to school project. That will enable it to set its priorities, whether they relate to rural or urban schools. The key thing is that local authorities should identify the right schools and do so in the context of the guidance on best practice that we have given, which is intended to help them.
It is an unfortunate fact that most road traffic accidents, whether rural or urban, involve people who have recently passed their tests. Although this may not be a devolved matter, will the minister agree that it might be worth looking at the scheme in Northern Ireland that provides for a probationary period for people who have passed their tests during which their cars must have plates that are recognisable to other drivers?
I am aware that we need to survey the causes of accidents. One of the research projects that has not yet begun, but which is programmed, is an evaluation of driver improvement schemes in West Lothian. We are keen to raise driver standards and to find opportunities to focus on that. If there are specific local matters of which Mr Stone has experience, I will be happy to address them if he writes to me.
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