SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE
Enterprise, Lifelong Learning and Transport
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (Reorganisation)
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Highlands and Islands Enterprise in respect of its proposals for the reorganisation of its local enterprise companies. (S2O-9465)
We have held several discussions with Highlands and Islands Enterprise on its reorganisation proposals. HIE received widespread support for its reorganisation and I was content for it to proceed to implementation. The proposals were announced to all staff on 2 March 2006.
The minister will be aware that one of HIE's proposals is to create one large local enterprise company that includes Inverness and the inner Moray firth area, including Easter Ross and Nairn—in other words, the densely populated part of the enterprise network's area. Despite what the minister says about widespread support for the proposals, he must be aware of the concern that they are causing, not just because of the break-up of valued LECs such as Ross and Cromarty Enterprise. Does he agree that the imbalance in the enterprise network that will be created is undesirable and that the inevitable effect will be that the Inverness city region that is served by the large LEC will get all the attention, while the economically vulnerable areas with small LECs—which is where HIE should target its efforts—will be disadvantaged?
No, I do not agree. We should acknowledge that HIE has transformed the economy of the Highlands—an area that used to be characterised by depopulation and decline, but which is now synonymous with growth, prosperity and a high quality of life.
During the Environment and Rural Development Committee's inquiry into accessible rural areas, we heard from people in Lanarkshire who were extremely concerned about a Glasgow city region, so one imagines that people in Easter Ross feel the same about an Inverness city region. Trickle-down economics do not work. How will the minister measure job creation and improvement in the Easter Ross economy under the new large LEC?
There is no suggestion that trickle-down economics are being applied in the Highlands or anywhere else in Scotland. The purpose of an economic development agency is to develop the economy. I repeat that HIE has been astonishingly successful in so doing. The measurement of economic agencies' performance is difficult. We had a debate on the issue last week and we are considering several ways of monitoring and measuring the effectiveness of HIE and, of course, Scottish Enterprise.
Cycling
To ask the Scottish Executive how it is promoting cycling as a means of travelling to work. (S2O-9500)
We will continue to core fund Cycling Scotland to promote cycling as a healthy, sustainable and environmentally friendly mode of transport. We will maintain cycling, walking and safer streets funding to local authorities. Earlier this month, we published guidance on regional transport strategies. The guiding principles include the provision and promotion of sustainable transport choices and the facilitation of access to jobs.
I am sure that the minister is aware of the article in that illustrious newspaper the Sunday Herald in which he was condemned for a
I am grateful to Mr Pringle for his helpful question. He is right—we attach considerable importance to investments in cycling. I am pleased to say that between 2005 and 2006, local authority funding has risen from £8.65 million to £9.9 million. In addition, our funding for Cycling Scotland is around £400,000 in the current financial year. Sustrans funding for the national cycle network, to which Mr Pringle has paid particular attention and on which he has written me many letters, has risen from £1.5 million in 2002-03 to £2 million in the current financial year. I was surprised by the piece that he mentions, particularly as I received a letter from the chief executive of Sustrans that entirely refuted the arguments.
Enterprise Economy
To ask the Scottish Executive what new steps it is taking to create an enterprise economy. (S2O-9446)
We have clear strategies that set out the path we will follow in achieving a high-skill, high-wage economy and which provide clear direction for the enterprise networks and others to deliver against. In line with the strategies, we are investing in business support, focusing on sectors that will bring Scotland competitive advantage; investing in transport and broadband infrastructure; investing in health, education and skills; and taking steps to reduce business rates and reform the planning system, to name but some of the steps that we are taking to create an enterprise economy.
We shall all be agog in about half an hour when we hear from the Deputy First Minister how bailing out Scotland's floundering enterprise agency will benefit our enterprise economy. Does the minister accept the view of the Enterprise and Culture Committee that the top echelon of Scottish Enterprise should appear before the committee as a matter of urgency on 18 April to explain why Scottish Enterprise went over budget? That means that those witnesses would appear before ministers signed off next year's budget rather than after 18 April to avoid the heat, as alleged in The Herald today.
I do not accept Mr Brocklebank's—
Premise.
Premise. Scottish Enterprise is well respected internationally for the work it has done, is doing and will continue to do to promote Scotland's economy internationally and to grow it domestically. As Mr Brocklebank correctly points out, my boss, the Deputy First Minister, will be making a statement on Scottish Enterprise immediately following questions on justice issues. It would be wrong of me to pre-empt what Nicol Stephen might say.
The reality is that a third of working people in Scotland earn less than £6.50 an hour, which makes a mockery of the minister's words. I am sure that he understands why I am totally sceptical that he can turn the situation round without economic powers. What will he do in the meantime to benchmark even the current micropowers against what is available in other countries and herald a new era of perpetual improvement in economic development?
On benchmarking, I do not accept any of Mr Mather's suggestions for how we should grow Scotland's economy. Independence would not make one iota of difference to that aim; in fact, it would detract severely from our economic prospects. That fact has been recognised by the Scottish people for generations and it will be recognised for generations to come.
Glasgow Crossrail<br />(Commonwealth Games 2014)
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will support the Glasgow crossrail project as a major component of the Glasgow bid for the 2014 Commonwealth games. (S2O-9483)
We are committed to improving public transport in Glasgow in line with the bid for the Commonwealth games. The national transport strategy and the strategic projects review will consider projects that improve public transport in Glasgow, including the rail network.
I know that the minister has recently been acquainted with the details of the crossrail project, which will serve not just Glasgow but other parts of Scotland. Does he agree that there is a powerful case for the crossrail project in relation to the Commonwealth games bid? Will he ensure that the appropriate officials from his department are allocated to ensure that the Commonwealth games bid and the transport network that is to service it are given the appropriate resources?
I am grateful to Paul Martin for raising this issue, and I am grateful to his colleague, Bill Butler, for chairing last night's meeting of the cross-party group on Glasgow crossrail. I attended the meeting and was interested to hear the proposals and how they are developing. The case is compelling, and there are strong strategic and local arguments. As Mr Martin knows, the project will have to proceed through an appropriate process involving the strategic projects review. However, I give him the undertaking that I will continue to look closely at the project and see what we can do to bring it to fruition.
Does the minister agree that, given the national benefits that could flow from the crossrail project; the large number of people in Glasgow and the surrounding areas who do not have access to a car and who are, therefore, dependent on public transport; and the relatively low cost of the scheme in comparison with other infrastructure projects that the Executive is supporting, games or no games, the crossrail project stands on its own merits?
I accept that the project stands on its own merits. It is not just a local project for Glasgow: it has potentially significant advantages for our strategic rail network, not least because of the potential for the new Glasgow airport rail link—on which I know Mr Harvie is particularly keen—to connect to the rest of the Scottish rail network. That appears to be one reason why it is an important project to consider further.
I am pleased with the minister's positive responses. He mentioned the strategic projects review 2007. Can he tell us whether the Executive will commit to the crossrail project in that review?
No, I cannot tell Sandra White that we will commit to a project—whatever it might be—in the strategic projects review. That would defeat the purpose of having the review. We will take it through its normal course, which I am sure Sandra White agrees is the right approach for any Government to take. The proposals that are being made and the development of the ideas behind the project are important, and we need to make further progress on them.
Station Improvements (Edinburgh)
To ask the Scottish Executive what timescale is envisaged for major improvement works to Waverley and Haymarket railway stations. (S2O-9470)
Construction for the Waverley station infrastructure works project was on site in January and will be complete, on time and within budget, in December 2007. The City of Edinburgh Council is conducting a feasibility study to examine the wider options for development at Haymarket station. That study is due to be complete in spring 2007.
I welcome the fact that progress is being made on both stations. Will the minister use his influence to ensure that Transport Scotland does some work on the Waverley project so that Waverley station can be considered in the strategic transport projects review next year? Does he share my frustration that last year marked 20 years since the first plan was drawn up to make Haymarket accessible? Now that we have given the green light to trams, there seems to be no obstacle to our getting on and making sure that the transport interchange—which was in First ScotRail's franchise plans—is delivered. Can we get the blockage removed and see the improvements being made to our two major stations on the ground of their national and strategic importance?
I accept the drive that Sarah Boyack brings to the issue. I am happy to assure her that I will discuss with Malcolm Reid, the chief executive of Transport Scotland, how best to take forward the transport improvements at Waverley station, and I assure her that I will look constantly and consistently at how we can best achieve that. I share her frustration about Haymarket railway station. We have an opportunity to provide a shining example of a good transport interchange in Edinburgh between trams, heavy rail and the bus services that connect at Haymarket. Haymarket appears to be an important transport interchange not only for Edinburgh but, strategically, for Scotland, because there is potential for many people to use it. I will do what I can to push the matter that she raises.
The minister will know that traffic from Fife and the north-east of Scotland is affected by capacity constraints on the line from Inverkeithing and across the Forth rail bridge to Edinburgh. Those constraints are just as important as the constraints that are caused by platform capacity problems at Haymarket and Waverley. Is it intended to improve the signalling at Inverkeithing to allow more trains to cross the bridge and take advantage of increased capacity at Waverley?
When the Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine line opens, freight services that currently take space from passenger services will be removed from the Forth rail bridge, which will bring improvements. I would be happy to share the details with Parliament.
Forth Estuary Transport Authority (Meetings)
To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met the Forth Estuary Transport Authority. (S2O-9484)
I last met members and officers of FETA on 2 November 2005. Officials from my department hold regular discussions with the authority.
The minister will be glad to know that my supplementary question is not on tolls.
Christine May raises an important and serious question about how we can ensure that we deliver important regional and strategic networks and links. As she knows, the bridges review—dare I mention it—concluded that FETA was the most appropriate body to maintain the existing Forth road bridge. However, ministers have an open mind about the longer term, when we will have to consider whether we need a second crossing. If one is needed, we will have to consider the most appropriate body to manage it.
The minister will be aware that Labour and Scottish National Party councillors from Fife voted to ask him to rescind the Forth Road Bridge (Toll Period) Extension Order 1997, but they were defeated by the Liberal Democrat councillor from Fife and, of course, the Labour councillors from Lothian. The minister has rejected FETA's £4 toll proposal, so how does he propose to fund transport infrastructure? In particular, what plans does he have to fund the rebuilding of the A8000?
The A8000 project is under way, as is obvious to anyone who passes the area—and I am sure that Tricia Marwick is one of them. We will continue our discussions with the FETA board on the funding arrangements.
Scottish Community and Householder Renewables Initiative
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of micro-renewable energy businesses facing closure as a result of a delay in announcing the continuation of funding for the Scottish community and householder renewables initiative. (S2O-9463)
The volume of applications to the Scottish community and householder renewables initiative has increased substantially. Additional funding of £6.85 million has already been made available. The success of the scheme, combined with record levels of funding, should lead to an upturn in business for micro-renewables companies.
A small micro-renewables business in my region is considering redundancies this week. It cannot be sure of orders for its product because of the uncertainty that the Executive has created over the funding of the SCHRI. The minister will know that providing grants for initial orders of micro-renewables devices will allow the industry to establish itself and allow prices to come down, further increasing orders. Will he reassure us that the SCHRI will be reinstated as a matter of urgency, to create long-term certainty for the micro-renewables market instead of uncertainty?
I have just given that assurance. Since its introduction, the SCHRI has been astonishingly successful and has led to an increase in the number of installers—there were 14 in 2003 and there are now around 40. Our recent announcement that we will honour existing commitments in the system, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer's commitment to put a further £50 million into micro-renewable generation, augur well for the industry and bear out what I have said publicly, which is that the focus should be on greater community business use and other social use of such devices. That is proof positive, if it were needed, that great minds think alike.
Justice and Law Officers
Legal Services (Rural Access)
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to improve access to legal services in rural communities. (S2O-9503)
We are concerned to ensure an adequate supply of high-quality legal and other advice services across the country. That underlies our proposals in the "Advice for All" consultation and our other initiatives on access to justice. We are now considering how best to take those matters forward.
I thank the minister for that answer and for the replies that I received from him and from the chief executive of the Scottish Legal Aid Board in response to my representations about the difficulty that Women's Aid clients experience in accessing legal aid. They are some of the most constructive and positive replies that I have received in a long time.
The examples that Jim Wallace cites are good ones. What is happening in Shetland, where good use is made of e-mail, telephone communication and videoconferencing, is highly instructive. If the use of such technology can be shown to work, I think that it should be applied more widely throughout rural Scotland. Understandably, there will be circumstances in which it will not be appropriate to use such methods, but given that they have been shown to work in Shetland, I see no reason why they could not be applied elsewhere. We will consider the matter carefully; we hope to encourage the adoption of new technology whenever that is possible.
Scottish Cup Semi-final (Public Order)
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any concerns about the public order implications of the decision of the Scottish Football Association to stage the semi-final of the Tennent's Scottish cup between Heart of Midlothian FC and Hibernian FC at Hampden Park on Sunday 2 April 2006 at 12.15 pm. (S2O-9451)
We have skipped a supplementary. We will come to question 2 after Maureen Macmillan has followed up on question 1.
Thank you, Presiding Officer. I was temporarily in despair.
Maureen Macmillan has written to me about that issue. I will reply to her shortly.
We now come to question 2. Are you content to take the question as read, minister?
Yes.
I do not know about Scottish football being the winner; I hope that it is Hearts football team. Does the minister agree that the SFA's decision to stage the match at Hampden instead of Murrayfield betrays a total disregard for the interests of some 50,000 supporters, especially given the considerable inconvenience and expense to which they will be put? Indeed, the decision is all the more galling when we have a magnificent neutral venue in Edinburgh in which to stage the match. Does she further agree that policing costs will be higher as a result of the decision? Will she advise the SFA that it should pay proper regard to the interests of fans and to the costs to the public purse in future decisions on the dates, timings and venues of such games?
I may at times wish that my responsibilities extended to the Scottish Football Association. I am afraid that they do not—indeed, it would not be appropriate for them to do so. Of course, it is important that account be taken of football supporters. I am sure that the fans will have an enjoyable time on the west coast and that things will go well on the day. A number of issues have been looked at already to ensure the safety of supporters and to make it a good day for everyone.
I well remember that cup win, Presiding Officer. [Laughter.] I expect it to be repeated with gusto.
As I indicated in my previous answer, the match commander has been in touch with supporters organisations and the various police forces—Lothian and Borders police, British Transport police and Strathclyde police. I understand that the intention of the police is to ensure that the message gets across to fans that, if they do not have a ticket to get on one of the trains, they should not turn up at Waverley station. The police are asking those people to look for alternative methods of getting to the match.
Closed-circuit Television (Wick and Thurso)
To ask the Scottish Executive what additional funding will be made available to install more CCTV cameras in Wick and Thurso. (S2O-9502)
Thurso benefited from investment in CCTV in 2002. A number of local authority areas are now utilising quality of life, community safety partnership award programme or antisocial behaviour funding for CCTV. Highland Council has said that £133,000 of quality of life funding in 2006-07 will be spent on CCTV developments. The decisions on where that funding will be allocated are for the council to take.
If I tell the minister that the cost of installing four basic CCTV cameras in Wick was £60,000, he will appreciate that Highland Council's allocation of money will not go far. I will continue to use Wick as an example. The town is expanding; it is turning the corner economically with the construction of new stores, including Homebase. However, the CCTV coverage of the town is not matching its expansion. The police tell me that they would find it useful if additional cameras were installed. Bearing in mind the comparatively small size of Highland Council's budget, will the minister ask his officials to examine the issue with a view to helping the council to install more cameras by, for example, giving some money towards that?
As I said, a number of budget headings can be used to access funding for the deployment of CCTV cameras. When we come to allocate the funds across Scotland, we do so under agreed criteria. We try to look as objectively as we can at the needs of areas across the country. Many communities in Scotland would make similar pleas to the one that Jamie Stone makes. The funding has already been substantial, and I hope that Highland Council will be able to consider whether some of the other funding headings that I mentioned would give the council the opportunity to make further funding available. We have already seen the effectiveness of such funding in many communities, but it would be wrong of me to suggest that there is additional money available for either Wick or Thurso that might somehow be made available without that happening at the expense of other communities.
Legal Profession and Legal Aid (Scotland) Bill
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it believes that the proposals in the Legal Profession and Legal Aid (Scotland) Bill address the issues raised by contributors to the Executive consultation, "Reforming Complaints Handling, Building Consumer Confidence". (S2O-9458)
The strong message from the 500 responses to our consultation was that a greater degree of independence was needed in arrangements for handling complaints about lawyers. For that reason, the bill seeks to create a Scottish legal complaints commission, which will be independent of the legal profession. We therefore believe that our bill does indeed address the issues that people raised in response to our consultation.
I congratulate the Executive on the publication of a very good bill, which addresses some important issues. In order to make the bill an excellent bill, will the minister give consideration to one of the issues that were mentioned in the feedback from the consultation exercise, which is that the perpetuation of the distinction between categories of complaints against solicitors—service complaints and conduct complaints—might not be addressed effectively by the bill and might lead to further confusion of the type that the bill tries to address?
We listened carefully to representations from various quarters, including the legal profession. Although conduct complaints would remain with the legal professional bodies, the commission would have oversight and would be empowered to enforce its recommendations in relation to the professional bodies' casework decisions. Of course, the bill still has to be considered by Parliament, so that it will be a matter for parliamentary determination. I await with interest the exchanges that I will have with the lead committee and with others who choose to participate. I think that we have struck the right balance, but there is much still to be decided as the bill develops.
Low Moss Prison
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it remains committed to the public sector bid for a new prison at Low Moss; what progress has been made, and what timescales are envisaged. (S2O-9489)
We remain fully committed to allowing the bridging the gap public sector team to bid for the proposed new prison at Low Moss. Timescales are linked to the resolution of outstanding site-planning issues.
Does the minister share my concern at the delay in progress on a new prison in the west of Scotland, which is crucial for eradicating overcrowding and slopping out from prisons? Will she further assure me that the Executive will remain committed to a public sector bid, whether at Low Moss or elsewhere, and will she assure Parliament that a way will be found to ensure that we are informed of any progress or delay, so that we can continue to modernise the prisons estate?
Members will be aware of my specific interest in ensuring that we modernise the prisons estate, which will involve building new prisons, where appropriate, in addition to the significant work and expenditure that have already been put into our existing prisons estate. I wish that I could give Pauline McNeill further information at this time, but I remind members that East Dunbartonshire Council rejected the planning application on 30 August 2005. A process is under way at the moment and I cannot, unfortunately, give any more assurances on timescales. Nevertheless, I can make a commitment to keep Parliament updated as appropriate.
Drug and Alcohol Action Teams<br />(Good Practice)
To ask the Scottish Executive how good practice in tackling substance misuse is shared between drug and alcohol action teams across Scotland. (S2O-9494)
We provide funding to the Drug Action Team Association and the Scottish Association of Alcohol Action Teams to share good practice among alcohol and drug action teams through seminars, newsletters and regular meetings. We are also setting up a national forum on drug-related deaths and have published several good-practice guides to help ADATs learn from one another about successful approaches to tackling substance misuse.
I thank the minister for his reply; I am interested to hear what the Executive is doing. I noticed that recently published statistics show considerable differences in waiting times for drug treatments and rehabilitation in ADATs, but there was also a caveat that it was not appropriate to make too-rigid comparisons. Given that there are increased concerns about the appropriateness of methadone treatment for some addicts, how can we ensure that developments in drug treatments—in particular novel drug treatments, one of which is now being trialled by a patient in Dumfries and Galloway—are made available throughout Scotland so that any addict for whom the treatment is appropriate can receive it in his or her own area?
There are three issues. First, any treatment needs to be clinically proven and medically approved. Secondly, we want to ensure that a range of interventions are available throughout the country. We want pilots to be developed that explore different methods of treatment, because we do not believe that offering one treatment is the best way forward. Thirdly, we must recognise that any decision must be made by the professionals, the medical authorities and the patient, who cannot be dictated to by politicians. If a treatment is safe, available and appropriate, I hope that it can be applied.
Will the minister acknowledge the excellent work that is undertaken by Lighthouse, a Kilmarnock-based charity that supports the families of drug addicts, and the work of the South Lanarkshire council on alcohol, based in Blantyre, which supports alcohol abusers and their families? Can he confirm that those voluntary organisations will continue to have Scottish Executive support?
I am not familiar with the project in Blantyre, but I met representatives of the Lighthouse project at the invitation of Margaret Jamieson and I listened carefully to what they said. I recognise the work that is being done in the area.
There will be a pause at 2.55 to let members who are outside in and, thereby, to ensure a peaceful changeover.
Victims of Crime (Information and Support)
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to improve the information and support provided to victims of crime, particularly regarding decisions about the prosecution and release of those accused of committing the crimes. (S2O-9473)
The service that is provided by victim information and advice, which is part of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, ensures that victims in serious cases and all vulnerable witnesses are kept informed and are advised about the progress of their cases.
I thank the Solicitor General for Scotland for her full and informative answer. I place on record my recognition of the great improvements that have taken place in this area. However, does the Solicitor General agree that it is important to seek continually to improve existing arrangements and to learn from the experience of individuals? Will she agree to meet me to examine the recent experiences of several of my constituents and to examine whether lessons can be learned that could improve the experience of victims of crime in the future?
The short answer is yes—I would be delighted to meet any member of Parliament to discuss victim issues. My colleague Cathy Jamieson would also be interested because there are shared interests. The prosecution service deals with a significant section of victims, but the cases of many victims of crime will not come close to it, so there are wider issues than those that are dealt with by the Lord Advocate's and my department.
That is the end of questions. I will allow a pause of one to two minutes for members to come into the chamber, or to go out, as the case may be.
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