SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE
General Questions
Military Personnel (Support)
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it has made with its commitment paper that outlines work to support military personnel through improving access to housing, health, transport, education and training. (S3O-8256)
We have made considerable progress with the development, introduction or expansion of support and public services for the armed forces community in Scotland. A report detailing our achievements will be issued in the next few days.
Can the minister confirm that the information that will be issued tomorrow will include details of access to further education and job opportunities?
I am delighted to confirm that the annual report will cover a range of issues, including health, housing, education, employment and employability. It will contain details of what has been achieved so far, work that is in progress, our future plans in each of those areas and the consultations that we intend to have with key stakeholders.
There are 31,700 individuals in receipt of a pension under the war pensions scheme in Scotland. That is the minimum number of people in Scotland with a health condition that is related to military service. However, over the last period, only two health boards have recorded having treated veterans under the priority scheme. Eight health boards do not collate information on priority treatment. Will the minister ensure that the publication that will appear in the next few days addresses specifically the collation of information on treatment under the priority scheme?
We are aware of the issue and we are addressing it. We will report back on progress as and when there is progress to report back on.
Voluntary Sector (Funding)
To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions it has had with voluntary sector organisations about future funding issues. (S3O-8189)
We engage often and regularly with the third sector at all levels about a wide range of issues, including funding. As a result, we have provided funding that fits the circumstances of today, including the recently announced resilience fund, which is providing £1.7 million to help organisations that have unexpectedly run into difficulty due to the recession. Our effective dialogue with the third sector has enabled us to understand its needs better and to ensure that its skills, knowledge and experience are available to support our shared goal of a successful Scotland.
In a written answer to a parliamentary question from my colleague, Tom McCabe, Shona Robison said:
The Government works with local government to assess the effectiveness and impact of single outcome agreements. Reports will, of course, be given to Parliament when they become available.
Transport Projects (Ministerial Responsibility)
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that ministers are responsible for oversight of the procurement and delivery of major transport projects in its capital programme. (S3O-8198)
Responsibility for managing the delivery of that programme has been assigned to Transport Scotland and others. Scottish ministers exercise appropriate oversight.
What discussions have taken place with TIE Ltd and the City of Edinburgh Council to ensure that the Edinburgh trams project is procured and delivered on time?
It is for the City of Edinburgh Council to ensure that the project is delivered on time. Obviously, officials of the Scottish Government, which is responsible for providing up to £500 million in finance for the project, meet regularly with TIE officials to discuss the progress that is being made. Payment is made against achievement that is demonstrated. Of course, I have met the chief executive in recent times, but it is a matter for the City of Edinburgh Council.
What specific actions has the minister taken since June this year to progress the Aberdeen western peripheral route, which is vital to the economic wellbeing of north-east Scotland? Can he advise Parliament when he will conclude his consideration of the reporters' findings in the public local inquiry?
We expect to conclude our consideration of the reporters' findings and recommendations this calendar year. The report is, of course, substantial, and reflects the concerns of more than 9,000 objectors. It is important that we ensure that we have a robust decision-making process that does not lead us into interminable court actions, as happened with the M74, which would compromise our ability to deliver this vital project at the earliest possible date.
Will the minister assure us that he will try to tighten up the management of contracts, particularly in relation to the significant number that now appear to be running well over budget and which have necessitated the significant pruning of the capital budget in recent weeks and over time? Will he guarantee that he will keep an eye on the costs that are involved in the projects and ensure that his involvement in the process will mean that such pruning is not necessary in the future?
It might be as well to remind the member that our budget issues derive from the reduction in the funds that are available to this Government to spend. There is a catalogue of successful projects that I expect projects that are in course to mirror, such as the project that delivered the upper Forth crossing—the Clackmannanshire bridge—slightly ahead of time and on budget, and the successful project on the rail network to improve the platforms and facilities for trains at Edinburgh Waverley, which came in under budget and on time.
Question 4 was not lodged.
Bus Services(Strathclyde Partnership for Transport)
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Strathclyde partnership for transport on protecting socially necessary bus services. (S3O-8187)
The Scottish Government has had no discussions with SPT on protecting socially necessary bus services.
The minister will be aware that many communities throughout Scotland are facing swingeing cuts in bus services. That will have an adverse effect on areas such as Cambuslang and Rutherglen in my constituency, where there are high numbers of pensioners. What support will the Scottish Government provide to local councils and SPT in order to protect bus services and promote transport in communities throughout Scotland in these difficult times?
We have provided substantial support to local authorities across the board. By relieving local authorities of many of the constraints of ring fencing, which accounted for around 25 per cent of their expenditure, we have given them the flexibility to address the priorities of their own populations.
Question 6 was not lodged.
Ferry Services (Orkney)
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions ministers have had with Orkney Islands Council about the funding for the next generation of vessels for Orkney's internal ferry services. (S3O-8212)
The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth first met councillors on 28 February 2008 and again on 26 August 2009, and he hopes to meet the convener of the council shortly to discuss the council's most up-to-date proposals for taking forward the ferry replacement project.
As the minister knows, those are lifeline ferry services that help to sustain some of the most fragile communities in the country. Is he aware that there are now serious concerns in Orkney about the lack of progress in the discussions with the Government during the past two years? Does he acknowledge that in that time, the point at which certain vessels will need to be removed from some of the more exposed routes has grown ever closer? Does he realise that expecting the smallest council in the country to bear the full cost of that investment is simply not tenable?
The member may recall—although he may not be old enough—that in the 1980s, the responsibility and the funding streams for supporting ferries in the Orkney islands were transferred to the council. Nonetheless, despite the fact that responsibility for the provision of services clearly lies with Orkney Islands Council, we will continue to engage with the council to ascertain the best way for it to use the resources that it has available and the assistance that we can provide to help to solve the problem, which I acknowledge exists.
I reinforce Liam McArthur's point, and stress that European Council directive 98/18/EC will not, although it allows retrofitting of Orkney's internal ferry fleet, prevent the inevitable need to replace all nine vessels in the fleet. Orkney Islands Council has already contributed a quarter of a million pounds for the programme. Will the minister make a commitment today to replace the fleet and save the first-class lifeline inter-island service in Orkney?
I am certainly not able to make that type of commitment today. I return to my point about the transfer of assets and funding streams to Orkney Islands Council that took place—by agreement with the council—in the 1980s. It is against that backdrop, which makes it clear that responsibility lies with Orkney Islands Council, that we will continue with discussions—which have so far been fruitful—to establish an appropriate way forward that reflects the need to replace all the vessels in the not-too-distant future.
Can the Scottish Government explain whether it is possible to consider the need to replace not only the Orkney ferries, but those in Shetland and in other places? Is there any potential for those lifeline service vessels to be built in Scotland?
We very much wish to see vessels being built in Scotland. The member will be aware that we currently have a vessel for the Islay service on order from a shipyard in Gdansk. When we were progressing that procurement, I specifically contacted Scottish interests to ensure that they were making every effort to see whether they could bid, but—alas and alack—they did not wish to do so at that stage. We will continue to engage with shipyards in Scotland that can build ferries for our services, and ensure that they are in a position to bid when vessels are being sought in the future.
Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the impact of the Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland's plans to suspend its grant-making activities for the foreseeable future. (S3O-8215)
The enduring nature of the covenant between the Lloyds Banking Group and its predecessors and the Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland has provided a substantial and welcome contribution to the funding of charities in Scotland in the past couple of decades. We hope that continuing discussions between parties will enable as much as possible of that independent funding stream to remain in place.
The petition that the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations launched earlier this week shows clearly that charities throughout Scotland are rightly becoming increasingly concerned about the future of their funding should an agreement not be reached between Lloyds and the foundation. Will the minister commit to continuing to explore all possible avenues with Lloyds representatives to enable the foundation to continue its work while preserving its independence? Will he also give a commitment to work with the British Government to examine interim funding options for the foundation should an agreement not be reached?
As Mr Pringle might know, I have already met with the Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland and have spoken on two occasions with the deputy chairman of Lloyds Banking Group, Lord Leitch, to discuss the issue. I am happy to continue those discussions. The situation will be helped if agreement can be reached between the banking group and the foundation. I am also happy to co-operate with the United Kingdom Government to exercise some influence to try to resolve the matter. The United Kingdom Government and the public purse have a significant involvement through the Lloyds Banking Group.
This morning, I received a letter from Circle, an organisation that provides resources for the children of drug and alcohol abusing families. I have also been contacted by the Answer Project in Whitburn and several other charities, saying that the funding that they have received in recent years is at risk. I am sure that other members will have had similar issues raised with them. Will the cabinet secretary answer the question that my colleague Johann Lamont raised in a debate yesterday about what charities can expect when local authorities consider match funding to ensure that the funding continues in future?
As I said to Johann Lamont a few moments ago, the decision making on individual financial contributions to voluntary sector organisations is for the appropriate authorities to undertake. I have taken a number of initiatives to provide certainty and security of funding to the third sector throughout the spending review period. We secured an agreement between the SCVO, COSLA and the Government on how public organisations in government and local authorities should interact with the third sector. I certainly hope that, within the public expenditure constraints that we all know about, we find a way to support organisations that provide important services to vulnerable people in our society.
People's Charter
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it endorses the people's charter as supported by the Trades Union Congress. (S3O-8227)
The Scottish Government is pursuing a broad programme of action to offset the consequences of recession. We have also expressed directly to the United Kingdom Government our views about the case for continued public investment. We have not been asked to endorse the people's charter.
The minister will be aware of the laudable objectives that underpin the charter, which in essence is a campaign for change that aims at reconstituting the fabric of our society. What does the minister see as the best route to delivering the people's charter in Scotland?
Many of the objectives of the people's charter accord with the Administration's programme and actions. The arguments that the Administration has made in relation to accelerating capital expenditure to provide investment in our housing sector or in infrastructure in Scotland are part of the intervention that is essential if we are to ensure that we achieve our objectives. The Administration's on-going and enduring work to tackle inequality in our society and to provide opportunities for all to flourish through sustainable economic growth strikes me as being the most appropriate way in which to make progress on the agenda.
I am not sure whether the cabinet secretary is aware that the TUC motion on the people's charter was amended by the Unite trade union, which called on the TUC to work with the Labour Party in pursuing the progressive policies in the charter. Can we look forward to the Scottish National Party engaging positively with the Labour Party on some of the key issues that are outlined in the charter?
I am noted in this Parliament for being one of the most co-operative ministers, always desperate to work with others and seek common ground.
But what competition is there?
I say to Mr Rumbles that there is not much competition over there on the Labour benches.
Before we come to questions to the First Minister, I am sure that members will wish to join me in welcoming to the gallery His Excellency Louis B Susman, the United States ambassador to the United Kingdom. [Applause.]